(July 6, 2017 – Bridgeport, Ct.): Jay Gause was outstanding again as the York Revolution came from behind to defeat the Bridgeport Bluefish 4-1 in the finale of their four-game series on Thursday night at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, earning a four-game split and improving to 2-2 to begin the second half.
Gause (3-0) worked out of a pair of jams early in the game, and became dominant as the evening went along. The righty faced trouble in the bottom of the third as Bridgeport loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of walks and a single. Gause conceded a 1-0 lead for the Bluefish by retiring Luis Hernandez on a double play, and with a runner at third, struck out Jose Cuevas to limit the damage to just one run.
Bridgeport threatened to extend the lead in the fourth when Daniel Fields singled and took second on a wild pitch, but Gause struck out the next three batters, stranding Fields at second, and beginning a stretch on which he retired the final 10 batters that he faced in the game.
York struggled to get its offense going against Bridgeport starter Rainy Lara, who retired his first 10 batters of the game before Alexi Casilla bunted for a hit in the top of the fourth. But after a strike out double play and a 1-2-3 fifth, Lara had faced the minimum entering the sixth inning.
Down 1-0 in the sixth, Chase Simpson ignited a rally, rocking the first pitch to right-center for a leadoff single. Behind in the count with two strikes after being unable to get a bunt down, Angel Franco fought an opposite field single into left to put two runners on. Also falling into a two-strike count after attempting to bunt, Travis Witherspoon stayed with his sacrifice attempt and successfully moved both runners ahead. Simpson sprinted home from third on a wild pitch to tie the game, and with the infield in, Alonzo Harris slashed a go-ahead RBI single into right for a 2-1 lead. Lara advanced Harris to second on an errant pickoff try, and after a strike out, fell behind Isaias Tejeda 3-0 before issuing an intentional walk. Michael Burgess responded with an RBI single into left, bringing Harris home from second to increase the lead to 3-1.
Simpson added a run in the seventh, launching his first home run with the Revs to right field, leading off the inning after narrowly missing a home run foul earlier in his at-bat.
Gause worked 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on three hits, walking three and striking out seven to earn the win. Chase Huchingson recorded a pair of ground outs to finish the seventh, Ricardo Gomez handled a scoreless eighth, and Brad Allen logged a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Notes: In three starts, Gause has held opponents to two runs on nine hits in 17.1 innings, while walking four and striking out 23. Revs starters have posted quality starts in seven of their last eight games. York lefty Frank Gailey (5-6, 5.01) faces Lancaster righty Bryan Evans (5-2, 5.08) in a series opener Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 6:10 p.m. with Darrell Henry and Matt Present on the call.
