STATEN ISLAND, NY- Despite allowing the first three runs, the FerryHawks plated the final four, beating the Lancaster Barnstormers 4-3 Tuesday night at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park. The meeting was the first-ever between the two North Division adversaries
Nick Carrell made his second start of the season in Tuesday's series-opener, but just two pitches deep found himself trailing. B.J. Boyd launched his third home run of the season to begin the game, giving the Barnstormers a quick 1-0 lead. LeDarius Clark followed by doubling off of Carrell, before scoring on a Colton Shaver sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Cameron Gann got the ball for the Barnstormers and failed to allow a run through the first three innings. He'd receive another run of support in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out solo blast by Ed Reichenbach. The longball in his second at-bat of the season pushed Lancaster ahead 3-0.
The FerryHawks cut into the three-run deficit by plating a pair of runs off Gann in the home half of the fourth inning. Angel Aguilar started the inning by belting a home run inside the right-field foul pole. His team-leading fourth home run of the season made it a 3-1 game. After Gann issued back-to-back strikeouts, the FerryHawks managed a mini two-out rally to cut the deficit to one. Ricardo Cespedes singled before a John Nester walk, setting up Javier Betancourt. The second basemen bashed a double down the right-field line, scoring Cespedes to make it 3-2.
Carrell would go six strong innings for Staten Island. The 28-year-old allowed three runs, struck out four, and walked two.
Gann also went six innings, giving up two earned runs with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Staten Island took advantage of Lancaster's newest signing, Erik Cha, scoring two seventh-inning runs against the lefty without allowing him to record an out. Betancourt started the game-changing inning with a walk and was then bunted to second base by Alfredo Reyes. Reyes' bunt was back to Cha, who tossed high to first base. With two aboard and no outs, Joseph Monge also laid down a bunt which was fielded by Cha with another inaccurate throw, loading the bases for Ben Ruta. Ruta worked his team-leading 16thwalk of the season to push home Betancourt for a 3-3 score. After right-hander Cole Aker replaced Cha, the FerryHawks got their first lead on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Angel Aguilar. His second RBI scored Reyes to give Staten Island a narrow 4-3 lead.
Alex Katz (1-1) twirled two perfect innings (seventh and eighth) with three strikeouts, before giving way to another left-hander in Chris Nunn. Nunn struck out the side in the ninth inning to lock down the game and give him his second save of the season.
Staten Island (8-26) plays the middle game of their three-game series with Lancaster on Wednesday evening. LHP Anthony Auletta goes for the FerryHawks against Barnstormers RHP Dominic DiSabatino with first pitch at SIUH Community Park scheduled for 6:30 PM. The FerryHawks Pregame Show starts at 6:15 PM on the SI FerryHawks YouTube stream.
Postgame Notes: Angel Aguilar (2-for-4) recorded his team-best 13thmulti-hit game of the season...Staten Island matched a season high with four players garnering multi-hit performances...Aguilar's home run was the FerryHawks first since John Nester's two-run home run at High Point on May 20...Staten Island's bullpen has allowed one run over the last eight innings (two games)...
