(June 6, 2017 – Waldorf, Md.): Michael Burgess tied the game with an RBI single in the top of the eighth, but the York Revolution fell to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday evening at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Down 4-3, Alonzo Harris worked a one-out walk in the top of the eighth and Angel Franco singled into left to set the table. Burgess then whacked a game-tying single up the middle, deadlocking things at 4-4. Crabs reliever Zack Thornton retired the next two, however, and the Revs were also unable to take the lead in the ninth despite a pair of one-out singles from Jared Mitchell and Carlos Triunfel off Southern Maryland closer Cody Eppley.
With the game still tied, Edwin Garcia led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center. That set the stage for Michael Snyder who pulled a double down the left field line, one-hopping the fence. The ball settled near the wall, forcing left fielder Derrick Robinson to chase it all the way into the corner, as Garcia raced the entire way around from first base to score the winning run.
The game was back and forth all night. Burgess spotted York a 1-0 lead in the second, clobbering a homer to right-center, his seventh of the year.
Revs starter Steve Janas worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first, but allowed a second inning run when Zach Cone led off with a double, stole third with one out, and scored on a sac fly to center by Luis Alen.
The Revs went back ahead an inning later as Travis Witherspoon drilled a two-out double to left and came home on Harris’ RBI single to right for a 2-1 lead.
Janas worked around a leadoff double by Devon Rodriguez to eventually leave the bases loaded a second time in the fourth, but Cory Vaughn slugged a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth, propelling Southern Maryland in front at 3-2.
Witherspoon returned serve in the sixth, crushing a solo homer off the ramp in left-center, tying the game at 3-3 on his second of the year.
The Blue Crabs took another lead in the bottom of the sixth with an unearned run. Alen reached on an error and stole second before Janas struck out his final batter, Jose Lozada. With two outs, however, Garcia greeted reliever Michael Click with an RBI single to left-center for a 4-3 Blue Crabs lead.
Luke Westphal retired Cone on a double play to end the seventh, keeping it a one-run game. It stranded Vaughn who had reached on a one-out bloop triple down the right field line.
Brad Allen fired a 1-2-3 eighth after the Revs had drawn even.
Notes: The walk-off loss was the third of the season for the Revs. Chase Huchingson (2-2) suffered the loss; his only two losses and his only four earned runs allowed have come against Southern Maryland in the past week with Snyder doubles providing the difference both times. York struck out a season-high-tying 13 times; it was the first time in 11 games they had fanned double digit times. Witherspoon (2-for-5, double, home run) has now hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, batting .412 (21-for-51) on that stretch; the home run was his first since Opening Night. Franco (2-for-4) has now hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games. Burgess (2-for-4, home run) posted his third consecutive multi-hit game. York lefty Frank Gailey (5-3, 4.60) will face Southern Maryland right-hander Brian Grening (2-1, 3.05) on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry and Matt Present on the call.
