(May 18, 2018) – Dominic Severino turned in another impressive effort as the York Revolution rode a four-run first inning to a 5-1 victory over the New Britain Bees on Friday night at New Britain Stadium. The win snaps a three-game skid for the Revs (9-8) who pull within 3.5 games of first place in the Freedom Division.
York had not played since Tuesday due to a rained out doubleheader on Wednesday and a scheduled off day on Thursday, but the offense took control immediately.
The Revs scored all of their runs in Friday’s victory with two outs, beginning with the big first inning that set the tone. Michael Burgess kept things alive with a two-out walk, and Welington Dotel capitalized with an RBI double down the right field line to provide the game’s first run. Melky Mesa battled in a 2-2 count before crushing a three-run homer to deep left, his first with York, spotting the Revs a 4-0 advantage.
Zach Wilson supplied York’s fifth run, drilling a two-out RBI double down the left field line in the top of the fourth. It plated Travis Witherspoon who led off the inning with a walk and stole second base, as the lead grew to 5-0.
That was more than enough for Severino (2-1) who allowed just one unearned run in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.05 for the season.
For the second consecutive start, both against New Britain, Severino worked six innings and allowed no earned runs on just four hits while not issuing a walk. The right-hander took a shutout into the sixth, allowing only a run on Reid Brignac’s sac fly. All three of his strikeouts came in the second inning when he fanned the side.
Zac Grotz retired all six in relief and also struck out the side, doing so in the eighth. Junior Rincon retired all three batters following a leadoff walk in the ninth to close it out.
The Revs out-hit the Bees 8-4, led by Mesa who went 2-for-4 with the three-run homer and a double. Witherspoon reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a pair of steals.
Bees starter Zach Stewart (0-3) suffered the loss, charged with five runs on seven hits in five innings.
Notes: Grotz appeared for the first time since a four-inning save on May 8 after his scheduled start on Wednesday was rained out; he extended his scoreless streak to 11.0 innings over his last three outings. Witherspoon broke a tie with Jared Mitchell for third in Revs history in stolen bases, now with 57 in his York career. York is now 2-2 vs. New Britain on the season as the two teams square off for the second consecutive weekend. The Revs improve to 4-2 on the road. York righty Jay Gause (2-0, 2.21) will face Bees right hander Kyle Simon (2-1, 3.37) on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, The New WOYK app, and WOYK 1350 on YouTube beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
