BARNSTORMERS OUTLAST RAIN, CRABS

Lancaster Wins Opener, 5-0

Daryl Thompson had the Lancaster Barnstormers stumped for 5 2/3 innings.

Josh Bell broke up the spell, and the Barnstormers went on to defeat the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 5-0, in the opener of a mist-soaked Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Regency Furniture Stadium.

The second game was called due to unplayable field conditions.  No makeup date has been announced.

Bell whacked a line drive into right field with two outs in the sixth.  D’Arby Myers tried to make the shoestring catch to protect the no-hitter, but the ball skipped past him for a triple.  Thompson (0-3) then walked Sean Halton, his sixth base on balls on the afternoon, and was replaced by Jeff Urlaub.

Urlaub was greeted by Mike McDade’s line drive which glanced off the left-hander’s glove and into center for an RBI single.  Charlie Cutler bounded a single into center to score a second run.  Jeff Kobernus yanked a base hit into left for a 3-0 lead.  Logan Schafer beat out an infield single, and Cutler scored when Urlaub’s throw escaped the grasp of first baseman Zach Wilson.

The Barnstormers tacked on an insurance run in the seventh on a bloop double by Bell and Halton’s rope into the left field corner.

Bryan Evans (2-2) scattered seven hits and a walk over six innings.  The right-hander stared down three innings where the Blue Crabs advanced a runner to third, including the fifth when singles by Steve Lombardozzi and Bryant Nelson put runners at the corners with one out.  Nelson stole second on a swinging third strike by Wilson.  After Michael Snyder walked to load the bases, Gustavo Molina flied out to shallow right to end the threat.

The Barnstormers head to New Britain on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the Bees.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel at 6:15 with the first pitch at 6:35.

NOTES:  Josh Whitaker lost a nine-game hitting streak…Evans threw Lancaster’s fifth consecutive quality start…All three of Evans’ Atlantic League wins have come against Southern Maryland.