Despite three home runs from the offense, the York Revolution comeback effort came up short in a 7-5 loss to the Lancaster Barnstormers on Saturday night in front of 5,974 fans at PeoplesBank Park. The two teams move into a tie for first place in the Freedom Division with the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. York now leads the season’s War of the Roses series, 8-7.
The Barnstormers took the lead in the third against Revs starter Victor Mateo. With two outs, Lancaster strung together three straight hits, with Sean Halton singling home Garrett Weber to take the 1-0 lead.
Despite having good control early in the game, Mateo (6-8) lost the strike zone to begin the fourth. He walked the first three batters of the inning, before yielding a two run single to Anderson De La Rosa. Mateo settled down to get the next two batters, but Cole Garner came through with a single through the left side to bring in Lance Zawadzki. After De La Rosa scored on a wild pitch, Halton laced a single to left but Dayron Varona threw a bullet to the plate to cut down Garner, holding the deficit at 5-0.
The Revs answered quickly. Alexi Casilla led off the fourth with a walk and Isaias Tejeda followed with a line drive home run to left-center to make it 5-2 Barnstormers. It was Tejeda’s 16th long ball of the season, and extended his hitting streak to 10 games in a row.
Lancaster got the two runs right back in the fifth inning against reliever Jared Gaynor. Steve Clevenger and Nate Coronado reached on back to back singles to start things off, and with two outs, De La Rosa brought a run home on a dribbler up the third base line for an infield single. Beau Amaral followed with a single through the middle to put the Barnstormers back up by five at 7-2.
The Revs comeback effort continued in the sixth. Casilla again reached to lead off the inning, this time singling to left, and two batters later Telvin Nash launched a home run to straight away center field to make it a 7-4 ballgame. It was the second night in a row in which Nash hit a home run, extending his hitting streak to nine in a row, and moving into a tie for 7th all-time with his 38th career dinger with York. Two batters later, Varona smashed a solo shot to left center to bring York within two.
The Revs loaded the bases against reliever Kevin Munson on two walks and a hit batsman in the seventh. With Nash set to bat, the Barnstormers summoned righty John Kuchno, and Nash laced a ball to center field but right at Amaral to end the threat. Kuchno retired the side in order in the eighth before Scott Shuman worked a scoreless ninth for his second save. Starter Tommy Shirley (3-4) earned the win, allowing five runs in six innings.
The Revs look to salvage the finale Sunday afternoon when they send lefty Frank Gailey (10-9, 4.27) to the hill to face off with fellow left hander Rommie Lewis (8-10, 5.29). Fans at PeoplesBank Park will receive a Revs hat, presented by Stambaugh Plumbing & Heating. It’s also Candyland Day, featuring a giant candy drop and the York City Little League Chopper Drop presented by PeoplesBank. As always on Sunday it’s $1 Dog Day courtesy of Hatfield Quality Meats, Pre-game player autographs and catch on the field, and post-game kids run the bases. For tickets visit yorkrevolution.com, the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office, or call 717-801-HITS.
Darrell Henry and Matt Present will be on the air at 12:40 p.m. on 1350 WOYK as well as online at woyk1350.com, the WOYK YouTube Channel, and on the WOYK App.
