Leverett Deals Loss to Ducks!

Barnstormers Take 5-1 Decision from Long Island in Series Opener

Jarret Leverett pitched a strong six innings on Friday night for his second straight victory as the Lancaster Barnstormers grabbed a 5-1 decision from the Long Island Ducks in the opener of a three-game series at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The win jumped the Barnstormers into first place in the Freedom Division’s second half chase, one-half game over the York Revolution.

Leverett (6-5) yielded five hits and one walk over six innings.  The lefty, who pitched for Long Island down the stretch in 2016, hit a batter and struck out two.

Only Ducks catcher Jordan Pacheco proved to be a headache for Leverett.  The former Rockie, slapped two singles to right and also launched a two-out solo homer to right in the fourth for the Ducks’ only run.

Leverett pitched out of a jam in the second inning.  With the bases loaded and one out, Giovanny Alfonzo laced a line drive toward right field, but newly acquired first baseman Steve Clevenger made a leaping catch for the second out.  Dan Lyons flied to left ending the inning.

Alfonzo also flied out to right with two teammates aboard I the sixth and lined again to Clevenger in the eighth inning with a runner in scoring position.

The Barnstormers jumped ahead of Rafael Perez (6-6) with three runs in the second.  After Elmer Reyes made a slick stop up the middle of a one-hopper by Sean Halton, Cole Garner marked his return to Clipper Magazine Stadium with a home run to deep right center.  Garrett Weber and Josh Bell added ground singles.  Anderson De La Rosa doubled down the right field line to drive home a second run.  Newcomer Beau Amaral singled to left center for a 3-0 lead.

De La Rosa tacked on a second RBI double in the fourth with a drive over the head of left fielder Marc Krauss.  Rico Noel capped the scoring with a solo homer off John Lannan in the seventh.  The Barnstormers bullpen fired three shutout innings.

Lancaster will host Long Island again on Saturday evening.  The Barnstormers will send Rommie Lewis (5-6) to the hill against right-hander Dennis O’Grady (4-6).  Fireworks will follow the game.  It will be broadcast on the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 6:15.

NOTES:  Garner’s homer in the second ended a drought of 64 1/3 innings since a walkoff by Trayvon Robinson on July 8…De La Rosa reached 20 doubles on the season…Scott Shuman extended his streak of scoreless innings at home to 17 2/3…He has not allowed one at Clipper Magazine Stadium this year…The Barnstormers are 25-15 at home…Lancaster is nine games over .500 total for the first time all season.