(Sept. 11, 2021 – Waldorf, Md.): Melky Mesa homered and drove in four runs but the York Revolution saw an early five-run lead get away in a 7-6 loss to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Saturday night in front of 5,046 fans at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Revs have dropped three in-a-row after beginning the week-long road swing with a three-game sweep in Lancaster, and look to avoid a weekend sweep on Sunday afternoon.
York jumped ahead for the first time in the series, scoring twice in the first inning. James Harris led off with a full count single to left and Jack Kenley bunted for a hit. After a walk to Mesa loaded the bases, Nellie Rodriguez and Carlos Franco each drove sac flies to center for a 2-0 lead.
Southern Maryland answered in its first as David Harris ripped an RBI single to left, cutting the early lead to 2-1.
The Revs extended the lead in the third as Mesa annihilated a two-run homer off the back advertisement wall in left-center for his 14th of the season, giving York a 4-1 advantage. Mesa added two more an inning later, drilling a two-out double over the head of Cesar Trejo in left field to push the lead to 6-1 on his third and fourth RBI of the night.
Things took a sour turn in the bottom of the sixth as Revs starter Duke von Schamann, cruising to that point, appeared to have a double play ball rolled to short but a bad hop resulted in an error allowing two runners aboard with no outs. Zach Collier took advantage with an RBI single to right, and following a walk to load the bases, Joe DeLuca cracked a three-run double to left-center, chasing von Schamann and dwindling York’s lead to 6-5. Revs righty Luis Sanchez entered and retired all three batters faced to strand DeLuca at second.
Sanchez stayed on to record the first out in the seventh and gave way to Alberto Rodriguez after allowing a pair of singles. Rodriguez escaped bases loaded trouble, striking out Josh McAdams and retiring DeLuca on a fly out to keep the slim lead intact for the time.
Southern Maryland completed its comeback in the eighth, however, despite not batting a ball out of the infield. Cesar Trejo led off with a swinging bunt hit and Michael Baca was hit by a pitch. Jordan Howard attempted to sacrifice and reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Rubi Silva slapped a game-tying RBI fielder’s choice and Jovan Rosa gave Southern Maryland the lead with an RBI ground out.
Mat Latos needed just eight pitches to notch his 19th save in as many tries. York was held to just one hit, an infield hit by Osmy Gregorio in the eighth, over the final five innings.
York drops its fifth straight to Southern Maryland after winning three in-a-row head-to-head, and has now lost nine consecutive games in Waldorf.
York righty Joey Lara (1-2) squares off with Southern Maryland’s Misael Siverio (1-6) in Sunday’s finale at 2:05 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on the WOYK YouTube channel beginning at 1:45 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
