‘STORMERS SPLIT PAIR ON LONG ISLAND

‘STORMERS SPLIT PAIR ON LONG ISLAND

Second Game Sets Extra Inning “Record”

Mariel Bautista’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11^th inning gave the Staten Island Ferryhawks a 4-3 victory in the second game of a doubleheader at SIUH Community Park on Thursday evening.

The game went to four extra innings, the most in a Barnstormers game since the courtesy runner at second rule was adopted in 2019.

The Barnstormers had taken the opener, 7-3, behind an early offensive surge. 

Angel Aguilar opened the 11^th at second base and was moved to third on a sacrifice by Brandon Wagner.  Lancaster walked John Nester and Ricardo Cespedes intentionally to load the bases for the chance at a double play.  Bautista sent a pitch from Cole Aker (0-1) to deep enough left so BJ Boyd could not get off a throw.

Each team missed the first two opportunities to score the courtesy runner.  Lancaster finally broke through in the top of the tenth when Kelly Dugan launched a double to deep right center with one out off Victor Capellan (2-2) to score Boyd from third.  Two strong defensive plays kept the Barnstormers from scoring the additional run, and Staten Island was able to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

Colton Shaver gunned down Javier Betancourt at third on Alfredo Reyes’ bunt to open the bottom of the 11^th.  Reyes stole second and remained there as Joseph Monge became Josh Graham’s fourth strikeout in his three-inning stint.  With two outs, Ben Ruta crept a seeing-eye grounder through the right side to score Reyes.

Dugan had singled home Boyd in the top of the first to give Lancaster the lead.  Bautista countered that with an RBI base hit to produce an unearned run in the home second and Cespedes gave the Ferryhawks a lead with a drag squeeze bunt single in the fourth. 

Lancaster scored the tying run in the fifth after catcher’s interference kept the inning alive when Reyes failed to handle Shaver’s smash into the hole at shortstop, allowing Devon Torrence to score.

In the opener, Lancaster bolted out to a 7-1 lead through the first three innings.  Dugan gave Lancaster a 1-0 lead with an RBI double to right, following singles by Boyd and LeDarious Clark.  Shaver stroked a grounder to third.  Staten Island caught Clark in a rundown off third but Aguilar dropped a throw along a run to score.  Andretty Cordero singled home Dugan for a 3-0 lead, and Trace Loehr produced the fourth run with a sacrifice fly against Eric Marinez (0-1).

Aguilar homered in the bottom of the inning off Oscar De La Cruz (2-0), but the Barnstormers pulled away with two in the second and one in the third on a Cordero homer to right.

De La Cruz worked six, allowing two hits and two runs.  He gave way to Donald Goodson for the seventh.

The Barnstormers return home to take on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Friday at 6:30.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, starting at 6:25.

NOTES:  The doubleheader absorbed six hours, three minutes of playing time…Boyd has hit safely in 13 of 14…Dugan drove in four runs in the doubleheader and has 37 on the season…Clark stole his 10^th and 11^th bases of the season and now has 10 in the last 19 days…Lancaster’s relievers struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings.

About the Lancaster Barnstormers

The Lancaster Barnstormers are headed into their 18^th year in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.  Home games are played at Ballpark Digest’s two-time Best Ballpark in MLB Partner League Baseball – Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Please call 717.509.HITS (4487) or visit www.lancasterbarnstormers.com for more information. 

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

With teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 44 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 24-year history. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

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