(June 29, 2018) -- Michael Burgess launched a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to lift the York Revolution to a 4-3 win over the Somerset Patriots Friday night at PeoplesBank Park.
The drama didn’t unfold until late in the game, but the Revs jumped on the board early.
Melky Mesa singled up the middle in the bottom of the first to bring home two runs off Patriots starter Cory Riordan, giving the Revs a 2-0 lead. The Revs had four straight hits to start the game, one shy of matching a team record, but missed a chance to score more as Travis Witherspoon was picked off first base after leading off with a single.
Logan Williamson started for the Revs and was strong early, firing three scoreless innings to start his night.
The Patriots tied the game with two outs in the top of the fourth on a ground ball to first base hit by Mike Fransoso that Burgess booted, allowing two runs to score to make it a 2-2 game.
Williamson worked around a leadoff base runner in both the fifth and sixth innings and kept the game tied. He turned things over to the bullpen after six strong frames, scattering seven hits with two strikeouts, no walks, and just two unearned runs.
The Revs threatened against Riordan in the sixth when Alexi Casilla and Welington Dotel hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, but Riordan retired Mesa on a 6-4-3 double play, and the Revs eventually stranded the go-ahead run at third when Jose Cuevas lined out to center to end the inning.
Riordan struck out eight batters over seven innings and his only walk was an intentional walk to Burgess in the sixth inning.
With the game still tied 2-2 in the seventh, Zac Treece fired a scoreless frame with two strikeouts. Jailen Peguero followed suit in the eighth, stranding the go-ahead run at second with a strikeout to end the inning.
Grant Sides ran into trouble in the ninth when Aaron Dudley reached on a leadoff single. Justin Pacchioli came in to pinch run for Dudley and scored the go-ahead run on Fransoso’s RBI triple down the left field line to give Somerset a 3-2 lead. After allowing his first run all season, Sides kept it at just one run and stranded Fransoso on third with two ground outs and a strike out.
Down one run in the bottom of the ninth, Mesa led off with a single to left field off Patriots closer Ryan Kelly. Burgess was up next, and after fouling off a first pitch breaking ball, blasted a two-run walk-off home run to right field, slugging the Revs to a 4-3 win and their first walk-off win of the season.
Sides (2-0) earned the win while Kelly (1-2) suffered the loss and a blown save.
Notes: Burgess’ home run gave the Revs their first regular season walk-off win since August 24, 2017 (also vs. Somerset) and their first walk-off home run since May 12, 2016 when Andres Perez hit a three-run homer against New Britain. The home run is the ninth of the season for Burgess, fourth-most in the league, and the 34th of his Revs career, one shy of moving into the franchise's top ten. It was the first walk-off hit/RBI of his Revs career. Casilla went 4-for-4 with four singles; it’s the sixth time a Rev has had a four-hit game this season, the third time in the last two nights, and the second time this season that Casilla has done it.
Up Next: The Revs and Patriots will play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. Game 1 (seven innings) will start at 12 p.m. with Game 2 scheduled for 6:30 p.m. All tickets for the noon game are 50% off, while the night game is PA Lottery Night featuring Post-Game Fireworks presented by PA Lottery. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Revs Ticket Office.
Story by Michael Marcantonini
Broadcaster/Media Relations Asst.
