(July 29, 2017 – New Britain, Ct.): The York Revolution nearly pulled off a big ninth inning comeback, but a pair of outs made on the bases derailed those efforts in a 6-5 loss to the New Britain Bees on Saturday night in front of 3,677 fans at New Britain Stadium. The Revs fall to 12-10 in the second half, as the loss sets up a rubber match in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing 6-3, the bid for a rally began with one out in the ninth when Alonzo Harris doubled to left, extending his hitting streak to eight consecutive games. Alexi Casilla ripped a single up the middle, prompting Harris to be waved home but Michael Crouse’s throw to the plate was on target for the second out. Isaias Tejeda reached on an infield single to keep the game alive as a throwing error by third baseman Jovan Rosa put runners at second and third with the tying run coming to the plate. Michael Burgess laced a two-run single to left-center on a shot that appeared headed for the gap but Crouse cut it off on a bounce and fired to second in time to get Burgess and preserve the one-run win for New Britain on his third outfield assist of the game.
New Britain built its lead early against Revs starter Logan Williamson who had retired his first five batters of the game. Williamson appeared to be on his way through two scoreless innings when Jamar Walton rolled a ground ball to second, but a bad hop resulted in an error on Casilla to extend the inning. Crouse capitalized with a two-run double to right-center to open the scoring.
An error cost the Revs again an inning later. James Skelton led off the third with a base hit, and with Yusuke Kajimoto bunting, Williamson’s throw to second sailed into center for an error as the first two batters reached. An out later, Craig Maddox connected on a three-run homer to right-center, as it was suddenly a 5-0 New Britain lead. Maddox’ sixth homer of the season was his first against a lefthander, and was the first allowed by Williamson to a left-handed batter.
The Revs got on the board as Ryan Dent lined a two-out RBI single to center in the fourth. Chase Simpson worked a leadoff walk in the fifth, and after a two-out single by Tejeda to keep the inning alive, Burgess singled through the right side to plate Simpson and cut the deficit to 5-2. Reliever Nate Roe entered for starter Jonathan Pettibone and struck out Telvin Nash to end the inning, however, stranding two runners.
New Britain nudged its lead back to four runs when Jon Griffin homered to left-center leading off the bottom of the sixth, making it a 6-2 game.
Simpson drew another leadoff walk in the seventh and advanced on a passed ball and a Harris groundout, before scoring on a Casilla single to center to bring York within 6-3.
Roe (4-3) earned the win for New Britain, retiring all four in relief. Shawn Gilblair survived the wild ninth inning for his eighth save.
Williamson (4-7) was charged with six runs (three earned) in six innings, suffering the loss. It marked his sixth consecutive start of six innings or longer, and his fifth quality start in those six (3-2, 2.39).
Righty Jake Ezell debuted for the Revs with a 1-2-3 seventh inning on a strike out and two groundouts. Lefthander Jared Gaynor was also perfect in his York debut, retiring the side in order in the eighth on a groundout and a pair of strikeouts.
Notes: It is the second time this season that the Revs have lost by one run to the Bees with two runners thrown out by outfielders in a ninth inning; York lost 4-3 at home on June 15 in a game in which Gilblair survived his first save. Tejeda extended a seven-game hitting streak with a pair of hits. Casilla’s RBI is his fourth of the series. York out-hit New Britain 14-7 with Casilla and Burgess tallying three-hit nights. Burgess tied a season-high with a three-hit game and drove in a team-high three. York righty Jay Gause (5-1, 2.01) starts Sunday opposite New Britain right-hander Brian Dupra (3-7, 6.12) at 1:35 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 1:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
