YOUNGSTER CUEVAS TRIPS UP LANCASTER

YOUNGSTER CUEVAS TRIPS UP LANCASTER

Barnstormers Lose, 11-10, in Extra Innings

Cesar Cuevas, playing in his first full professional season, came up with three crucial singles, including the game winning hit, as the Lexington Legends rallied for an 11-10 extra inning victory over the Lancaster Barnstormers Wednesday afternoon at Wild Health Field.

After the Barnstormers built a 7-1 lead through the first five innings, Lexington battled back, and it was Cuevas in the middle of the three surges.  The 22-year old Californian smacked a game-tying single into right in the sixth to tie the score at seven.  Two innings later, he greeted Cole Aker with an RBI single to left, slicing Lancaster’s second lead to 9-8. 

Finally, as the first batter to face Bret Clarke (1-1) in the bottom of the tenth, he knocked home courtesy runner Manuel Geraldo with a single to center to end the lengthy afternoon.

For a while, it appeared that the Barnstormers would have an easy afternoon.  Andretty Cordero single home a pair of runs in the first and keyed a two-run third with a triple to right center.  Trayvon Robinson singled home two more in the top of the fifth, and he would score himself on a throwing error.

Meanwhile, Brooks Hall was cruising with a two-hitter until the bottom of the sixth opened with a Boog Powell single and a walk to Tillman Pugh.  Hall managed to get outs from Brandon Phillips and Phil Ervin, but Isaias Tejeda reached him for a three-run homer to left center to cut the lead to 7-4.  Hall then yielded a double to Dwight Smith, Jr. and a walk to Blake Swihart before leaving.

Geraldo greeted Donald Goodson with a double to left center field to plate two before the first heroic hit by Cuevas.

Lancaster jumped back ahead in the eighth.  With two outs, Anthony Peroni singled into center.  Shawon Dunston, Jr. dropped a bunt down, and reliever Jeff Johnson made a wild throw giving Lancaster runners at second and third.  Melvin Mercedes lined a single to left center.

After Cuevas’ second hit brought Lexington within one, Powell looped a double into shallow left to score Geraldo and Cuevas to give the Legends their first lead of the series.  Daniel Gibson had the Barnstormers down to a final strike when Colton Shaver unloaded his 10^th homer of the season to retie the game.

Mason Cole (1-0 pitched a scoreless 10^th as courtesy runner Anthony Peroni was thrown out at the plate by first baseman Montrell Marshall on a slow grounder by Kelly Dugan.

The series will conclude on Thursday evening.  Cameron Gann (4-4) will make the start for Lancaster.  Fans may tune into the YouTube broadcast beginning at 6:30.

NOTES:  Cordero batted safely for the 18^th straight game when playing a defensive position…Overall, he has hit safely in 33 of 39…The Barnstormers stole four bases, tying the season high…Robinson is 7-for-13 in the last three games…Lancaster is 2-2 in extra-inning games on the road trip and now 3-5 on the season…Anderson Feliz, batting exclusively left-handed as the result of an injury may be onto something…He was 3-for-3 off lefties in the game.

About the Lancaster Barnstormers

The 2022 Lancaster Barnstormers, presented by Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, are in their 18^th year in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.  Home games are played at Ballpark Digest’s three-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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