(Sept. 12, 2021 – Waldorf, Md.): The York Revolution used three big home runs to power a much-needed 8-4 victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Sunday afternoon at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Revs salvage the finale of the four-game series and move back within two games of the Blue Crabs in the North Division standings, capping a 4-3 road trip. The Revs return home to host the Lancaster Barnstormers on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
James Harris opened the scoring on Sunday, launching a two-run homer down the left field line for a 2-0 lead in the third inning on his ninth of the season and second on the weekend.
Revs starter Joey Lara held the Crabs scoreless through the first three innings, but Southern Maryland got on the board in the fourth. After loading the bases with one out, the Crabs scored on a Josh McAdams sac fly to shallow right-center. Revs center fielder Melky Mesa made a great running catch, but was forced to exit the game due to injury. The grab helped the Revs avoid a big inning, as Lara (2-2) retired Joe DeLuca on a fly out, yielding only the one run.
The Crabs plated two in the fifth, tying the game on a Jordan Howard RBI single to right. Howard advanced to third on an error when his base hit skipped past Welington Dotel in right field, and scored on a Rubi Silva chopper to second, giving Southern Maryland a brief 3-2 lead.
Dotel atoned with a crucial two-out single up the middle an inning later, keeping the sixth inning alive and chasing Blue Crabs starter Misael Siverio after a strong 5.2 innings. Osmy Gregorio greeted reliever Dalton Geekie (2-2) with a single to left, and Tyler Hill clobbered a clutch go-ahead three-run homer to left-center, putting the Revs right back on top at 5-3.
Southern Maryland threatened in the bottom of the sixth with three consecutive hits to start the frame as pinch-hitter Jake Marshall’s RBI infield single cut the York lead to 5-4. With runners at the corners, York righty Isaac Sanchez fanned each of the next three batters, striking out the side to keep the lead intact.
Southern Maryland made noise against York lefty Brandon Fry in the seventh as Howard walked and Silva bunted for a single, but Fry retired Jovan Rosa on a comebacker double play, and set down David Harris on a ground out to second, leaving another potential tying run at third base.
Israel Cruz yielded a leadoff double to Zach Collier in the bottom of the eighth, but maneuvered through the inning, retiring Michael Baca on a ground out to third to strand runners at the corners, marking a third consecutive frame in which the Blue Crabs stranded the tying run at third base.
Carlos Franco slugged an opposite field three-run homer to left with two outs in the ninth to bust it open to an 8-4 margin.
York closer Jim Fuller retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the win.
Notes: Hill’s home run is his second of the season with both coming on the last two Sundays vs. Southern Maryland. Franco now has 37 RBI in just 25 games with York this season including 19 in 11 starts since returning from Mexico. York improves to 7-15 vs. Southern Maryland, snapping a five-game slide and a nine-game skid at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Revs have hit 29 homers in their last 15 games. The Revs are now 13-8 in their last 21 games overall. Tuesday’s game includes Senior Fair presented by Capital Blue Cross. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
