STORMERS WOES CONTINUE

Santana Blasts Propel Staten Island to 10-5 Win

Cristian Santana unloaded a pair of three-run homers, and Staten Island turned three critical double plays as the FerryHawks defeated the host Lancaster Barnstormers, 10-5, Tuesday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The loss was the fifth in a row for Lancaster (4-12) while Staten Island (5-9) picked up its third straight win.

Santana gave the FerryHawks a lead they never lost in the fourth.  After Jack Elliott singled home Adrian Sanchez with a two-out run, and Luis Castro walked, Santana drilled the first of his two blasts deep to right center off Brandyn Sittinger (1-3) for a 4-2 edge.

Ricardo Cespedes chimed in with a solo homer in the fifth which was countered by a long ball off the bat of Melvin Mercedes.

The Barnstormers were given an opportunity to retake control of the game in the seventh.  Reliever Anthony Quattrocchi walked Chris Proctor and hit Jack Conley within his first six pitches.  Jake Hoover popped up a bunt before Trace Loehr walked to load the bases.  A wild pitch allowed Proctor to score to cut the lead to 5-4.  Melvin Mercedes walked to refill the bases.  Lefty Alex Katz entered and coaxed a 5-2-3 double play out of Trayvon Robinson to get out of the threat.

Castro rebuilt a 6-4 lead with a sacrifice fly in the eighth before Santana launched his second three-run shot of the night to put the game away.

The Barnstormers will send Jared Lakind (1-2) to the mound on Wednesday morning against Staten Island right-hander Austin DeCarr (0-2).  Fans may tune into Flobaseball at 10:55.

NOTES:  Mercedes’ homer extended his hitting streak to 12 games…He has reached on 10 of his last 11 plate appearances…He is 21-for-47 with six walks in the 12-game streak…He finished the night batting .393…Ariel Sandoval went 3-for-4…He is hitting .407 on the season and has batted safely in 14 of 15…Lancaster has allowed 16 homers in the last seven games…Eleven have come with at least one runner on base.