Pitching Takes Charge as ‘Stormers Win Series!

Evans, Bullpen Dominant in 3-1 Win

The Lancaster Barnstormers got just what they were looking for in a morning start on Wednesday.

Bryan Evans threw six strong innings, and the bullpen was perfect for the remaining three as the ‘Stormers picked up a 3-1 victory at Constellation Field, the club’s fourth win in the six-game set.

Evans carried a shutout into the bottom of the sixth when lefty-swinging Travis Scott lofted a fly ball just over the railing onto the picnic deck in left field.  Bryan Pounds, Cole Gillespie and Wilfredo Rodriguez followed with singles to load the bases with two outs.  Evans, pitching with a heat index of 106 degrees in Sugar Land, got Derek Miller to fly out to left as the final batter he would face on the day.

The right-hander allowed seven hits overall, walking one and striking out five in his fifth quality start of the season.

Kaohi Downing struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh.  Scott Shuman matched the performance in the eighth inning.   The ninth belonged to Anthony Carter, who also retired the side in order, capping off the day with a stab of pinch hitter Albert Cordero’s sharp comebacker.  Carter picked up his 18^th save of the season and 17^th in a row.

Lancaster struck for its three runs in the fourth inning off Brett Marshall (6-5).  Josh Bell led off with a walk and went to third on Sean Halton’s double into the left field corner.  Marshall got a shallow fly out from Cole Garner and a ground ball from Garrett Weber with the out recorded on Halton at second.  Lastings Milledge stroked a ground ball at shortstop Kevin Ahrens, but it was mishandled for an error as the first run of the game scored.  Nate Coronado took Marshall over the head of Gillespie in center for a two-run triple and a 3-0 lead.

The Barnstormers would not manage another hit on the afternoon.

Lancaster returns home on Thursday and will start a three-game series against the Long Island Ducks on Friday evening.  The Barnstormers will send Jarret Leverett (5-6) to the mound.  Long Island is expected to counter with left-hander Rafael Perez.  Friday night’s game will kick off Farm Show Weekend at Clipper Magazine Stadium.  There will be a performance by country bad Low, Low Chariot following the game.  The contest will be aired on Blue Ridge Cable 11, beginning at 6:30.

NOTES:  Coronado hit safely in all five games he played on the road trip, going 8-for-17 with five RBI…Lancaster has now gone seven straight games without a home run…Downing pitched his 14^th straight scoreless outing…The Barnstormers are 7-6 in the second half despite playing 10 of 13 on the road…The Barnstormers have signed an outfielder and first baseman, both left-handed batters, who will join the club upon their return to Pennsylvania.