MAKE IT EIGHT STRAIGHT

Barnstormers Continue Roll with 4-3 Thriller

The Lancaster Barnstormers continue to find ways to win.

Jake Hoover singled home Ariel Sandoval with the decisive run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday evening as the ‘Stormers pulled out a 4-3 victory over the Staten Island Ferryhawks for the host club’s eighth straight win, tying a season high.

Sandoval led off the inning with a sharp single up the middle off Connor Law (1-2), a ball that barely eluded a diving try by shortstop Alfredo Reyes.  Anthony Peroni followed with a single into right center that chased Sandoval to third.  Hoover cleared second baseman Dilson Herrera with his liner that won the game.

For the second consecutive night, the Ferryhawks struck for two runs in the top of the first.  Nile Ball walked Antoine Duplantis and Angel Aguilar, two of the first three batters of the game.  Herrera grounded out on a slow roller toward third, then Christopher Cespedes beat out an even slower ground ball for an infield single and the 1-0 lead.  Aguilar then came home on a ground single up the middle by Ramon Osuna.

Ball worked six more innings, facing just two batters over the minimum, without yielding another run.

Lancaster forged into the lead in the bottom of the third.  Trace Loehr led off with a walk, and Trayvon Robinson, just inserted into the game, pulled a ground single through the hole.  Melvin Mercedes singled to center to score Loehr.  With Robinson at second and Mercedes at first, Andretty Cordero launched a deep fly to center that pushed Duplantis to the warning track.  Robinson tagged, then a split second later, so did Mercedes.  Staten Island made a play on Mercedes at second, just missing.  Robinson never slowed down and raced home with the tying run.

One out later, Anderson Feliz drilled a single into right field for a 3-2 lead.

Manager Ross Peeples turned the game over to his bullpen, but Josh Graham surrendered a home run to Duplantis with his second pitch, tying the game.  Graham retired the side in order after that.  West Tunnell (3-0) came on for the ninth and struck out the side to earn the win.

The series will conclude Sunday at 5:00.  Lancaster will send RHP Cameron Gann (5-8) to the hill against RHP Francisco Carrillo (0-1, 0-4).  Fans may tune into Blue Ridge 11 or the Barnstormers YouTube channel for the first pitch.

NOTES:  Lancaster again struck out 10 or more batters, the 38^th time the staff has done it this season…The Barnstormers have gone four games without hitting a homer, the longest stretch by the team this season…Ball threw his seventh quality start, tying Oscar De La Cruz for the team lead…Lancaster’s other eight-game winning streak came July 6-14…Shawon Dunston, Jr. left the game early with a “mild strain.”…Hoover’s single extended his hitting streak to five…Cordero drove home his 85^th run, moving him to within 18 of the club record.