(August 20, 2021 – York, Pa.): The York Revolution stormed back from a pair of eight-run deficits, clawing within a run on a Josue Herrera grand slam but fell to the Gastonia Honey Hunters, 11-10 in Friday night’s weekend series opener at PeoplesBank Park.
Looking to return the favor from last Friday in Gastonia when the Revs rolled to a 16-1 victory, the Honey Hunters scored in each of their first five innings at the plate to build a sizable lead.
In the first, Reece Hampton reached on a leadoff infield hit. A double from Mike Papi moved Hampton to third and Michael Osinski drove him home on a groundout to second.
Gastonia used a pair of second inning home runs to increase their lead to 4-0. Ryan Cordell greeted Revs starter Joey Lara with a leadoff home run to left center. After Emmanuel Tapia worked a walk, Manuel Geraldo launched a home run to right for two runs and the four-run lead.
The Revs got a run back in their half of the second. Nellie Rodriguez crushed a leadoff home run to left center for his 12th of the season and the Revs’ first run of the night.
Continuing to produce, the Honey Hunters quickly got the run back in the third. With two outs, Cordell worked a walk and stole second. That set the stage for Tapia’s RBI single to right for the 5-1 advantage.
Gastonia teed off in the fourth with three long balls driving in four more runs. Ermindo Escobar and Hampton went back-to-back to lead off the frame. After Papi walked, Jason Rogers posted his 10th homer for the 9-1 lead.
York’s bats began to warm up in their fourth. Jack Kenley led off the fourth with a triple to right. Wasting little time, Melky Mesa plated Kenley on a double to center. A sac fly to deep center from Rodriguez brought home Mesa to make it 9-3.
The Honey Hunters kept York seemingly buried, increasing the lead to 11-3 with two runs in the fifth. After three consecutive base hits loaded the bases, Papi drove in one on a sac fly to right. Osinski plated the second run on a base hit to right for the eight-run lead.
In a bat-around fifth, York got within one run, 11-10, scoring seven times on just two hits. Osmy Gregorio collected the first hit on a leadoff infield single. Honey Hunters starter AJ Merkel issued four straight walks, two with the bases loaded to bring York within six. Tyler Hill and Darian Sandford drew the first two walks to load the bases, while James Harris and Kenley worked the free passes with the bases loaded. For his second RBI of the night and an 11-6 score, Mesa sent Sandford home on a sac fly to center field. Rodriguez walked to reload the bases. After a strikeout put two outs on the board, Herrera delivered the monster hit with a grand slam to right center, bringing York within one run, 11-10.
The Revs received scoreless outings in relief from Israel Cruz, Isaac Sanchez, Brandon Fry, and Jim Fuller to keep it a one-run game, but York was also silenced after the fifth inning uprising, stranding the tying run in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings.
York continues its series with Gastonia in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. The first contest, a seven-inning game, starts at 12:00 p.m. The nightcap, a nine-inning game, will start at 6:30 p.m. Jake Welch (1-4) starts Game One for York opposite Gastonia’s Euclides Leyer (0-0). In Game Two, Austin Nicely (5-7) gets the ball while the Honey Hunters will counter with Jacinto Garcia (0-2).
Game One features a Back-to-School Celebration & Challenge presented by T-Mobile. The nightcap is First Responders Night presented by RBC Wealth Management as well as post-game Fireworks presented by PA Lottery. The Paw Patrol will also be on hand at PeoplesBank Park. Tickets are available at yorkrevolution.com, 717-801-HITS, or in-person in the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
