‘STORMERS RAMPAGE CONTINUES

Lancaster Drubs Lexington, 16-7

It was another night of non-stop action with the Lancaster Barnstormers at the plate.  This time, it even included a home run.

Joseph Carpenter was 3-for-3 with a homer and five RBI to lead the scalding hot Lancaster attack to a 16-7 win over the Lexington Counter Clocks in the middle game of a three-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

It was the seventh time in 10 second half games that the Barnstormers scored nine or more runs.  The club has won eight of those 10 games.

The Barnstormers reached Mike Kickham (1-4) on the first two batters of the game.  Melvin Mercedes singled to left and stole second and scored on a single to right by Yeison Coca, who promptly stole second as well.  Kickham retired the next two batters before Wilson Garcia beat out a dribbler toward third baseman Connor Owings.

Carpenter then took a 3-2 pitch onto the left field berm for a 4-0 lead.

Lexington jumped on Nile Ball (5-4) for three runs in the second.  Logan Brown slugged a two-run homer onto the right field deck, and Josue Huma singled up the middle to score Mitch Ghelfi to cut the lead to 4-3.

However, Lancaster went right back to work in the bottom of the second.  Coca walked and was forced at second by Andretty Cordero.  Chad Sedio single to left center, sending Cordero to second, and Garcia picked up a run with a liner into center.  Carpenter walked to fill the bases, and Trayvon Robinson drove home Sedio with a sacrifice fly.  Designated runner Shawon Dunston, Jr. scored on a wild pitch.

By the time the night ended, the Barnstormers had amassed 19 hits.  Everyone in the lineup, plus Dunston, who took over in center late in the game, had at least one hit.  Carpenter, along with his home run, had two doubles, two walks, a stolen base and was hit by a pitch.  Garcia and Loehr also collected three hits apiece on the night.

Ball lasted seven innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs.  Tyler LaPorte and Garrett Granitz tossed a scoreless inning apiece.

The Barnstormers conclude the series on Thursdy at 6:30. Newcomer Jeff Bain will make his first Atlantic League start while squaring off against right-hander Aaron Ochsenbein (5-2).  Fans may tune into Blue Ridge 11 or FloBaseball, beginning at 6:30.

NOTES:  Carpenter has hit safely in 11 straight, batting .512 (22-43) with seven doubles, three homers and 14 RBI…He is 19-for-31 in the last eight games with all of those extra base hits and 13 of the 14 RBI…Lancaster has scored 48 runs in Ball’s last three starts…Lancaster has averaged 9.9 runs per game in the second half…The club is hitting .378 as a team in the second half games…The Barnstormers added five steals on Wednesday evening, three by Mercedes…Lancaster has a one-game lead over York in the second half.