(June 30, 2021 – High Point, NC): John Sansone’s three-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth inning as the York Revolution erased an early deficit and held on late for an 8-7 win over the High Point Rockers on Wednesday afternoon at Truist Point. The Revs have won back-to-back games for the fifth time this season and clinch their first ever series win in North Carolina, and will go for the sweep in Thursday night’s finale before returning home for July 4 weekend.
York trailed 4-0 as High Point built an early lead. Stephen Cardullo cracked a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the first to open the scoring, while a double play produced an unearned run in the second and a Jerry Downs RBI ground out made it 4-0 in the third.
Rockers starter Tommy Lawrence was sharp early, retiring his first eight batters and nine out of 10 through the first three innings, but the Revs erupted in the fourth for their biggest inning since June 8.
Yan Sanchez and Carlos Castro started the rally with singles to right, and Jack Kenley helped set the stage for the big inning with an RBI bloop double to left, uncorking the lid for the offense. JC Encarnacion followed with a sac fly to center. Tyler Hill walked to keep the line moving, and Walner Espinal roped an RBI single to left to bring the Revs within a run. Sansone jumped on the first pitch he saw, launching a three-run homer to left-center to suddenly thrust the Revs ahead, 6-4.
York starter Austin Nicely put up a scoreless frame in his half of the fourth, and the Revs increased the lead to 7-4 as Kenley smacked an RBI single to left in the top of the fifth.
High Point inched a run closer on another Downs RBI grounder in the fifth, making it 7-5.
The Revs recouped that run in the seventh as Hill picked up an RBI on a two-out infield single to go up 8-5.
High Point threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Michael Russell led off with a bunt single and later scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 8-6. Revs reliever Eduardo Rivera issued three walks in the inning, but Victor Capellan came on with the bases loaded and two outs and struck out Giovanny Alfonzo looking to end the threat before also handling a perfect eighth.
Cardullo worked a leadoff walk to begin the ninth and Downs singled to right as the Rockers immediately threatened in their final at-bat. Stuart Levy singled to center, plating Cardullo to draw within 8-7 and put the tying run at second and winning run aboard, but closer Jim Fuller retired pinch-hitter C.J. Farias on a huge double play grounder to third with Sansone stepping on third for the lead out and firing to second for another force. With things settled with two outs and just a runner on first, Fuller struck out Adam Taylor to secure the Revs’ biggest comeback victory of the season to date.
Notes: Nicely (3-2) ties Alex Sanabia for the team lead in victories. The Revs’ eight runs are their most in a game since June 17. York has now won back-to-back road games for the third time this season. Sanchez (2-for-4) has hit safely in 16 of his 17 games with York in which he has batted. Castro (2-for-5) has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 with multiple hits in 10 of those 13 games.
Up Next: York righty Austin Steinfort (1-2) faces High Point left-hander Bryce Hensley (1-2) in Thursday’s finale at 7:05 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM, 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and the WOYK YouTube channel beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
