WP: Nate Reed, LP: Brian Burres, SV: Scott Gracey, Time: 2:58
(September 24, 2015 – Lancaster, PA) Game two of the
Atlantic League’s Freedom Division Championship Series featured much more
offence from both dugouts compared to game one as Lancaster evened the
best-of-five set at 1-1 with a 6-5 win.
The game featured a matchup of lefties as the Blue Crabs’
Brian Burres took the hill vs. the Barnstormers Nate Reed. Both managers
tweaked in their line-ups as Lancaster stacked their order with eight right
handed hitters behind lefty lead-off man Jerry Owens. Stan Cliburn slotted all-star
righty Jamar Walton into right field for the start in lieu of the lefty Fred
Lewis.
Lancaster struck first in the first inning after Tyler
Bortnick singled, later scoring on a Mike McDade single. Southern Maryland tied
it up in the fourth as Casey Steven scored on a Reggie Abercrombie single. The
Barnstormers immediately laid claim to the lead for good in the bottom of the
fourth on Anderson Feliz three run home run.
Lancaster put on two more in the eighth as Anderson Feliz
doubled with two on. The Blue Crabs made Barnstormers fans uneasy in the ninth
as they mounted a rally. Back to back singles by Jamar Walton and Keith
Castillo put runners on first and third with no outs. Jake Opitz came up to
pinch-hit and doubled on an 2-0 count to score Walton. Later with one out, Fred
Lewis pinch-hit and singled, scoring Jake Opitz making it a 6-4 game. Casey
Stevenson followed with another single to score Craig Maddox.
The game ended on a double play to secure the Southern
Maryland loss and stifling the rally. Nate Reed earned the win after a 6.0 IP,
2 R, 6 H outing, Brian Burres gets the loss after a 6.1 IP, 4 R, 7 H outing.
Game three comes to Waldorf at 7:05 tomorrow, Joe Gardner will toe the rubber
for Lancaster and Jon Leicester will go for Southern Mayland. The series will
now have a minimum of four games, game four will be in Waldorf on Saturday,
September 26 at 6:35.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 