Jay Gause continued his effectiveness on the mound in his first home start, turning out six shutout innings and striking out 11 as the York Revolution earned a 7-3 win over the Sugar Land Skeeters in front of 3,729 fans at PeoplesBank Park on Saturday evening to take the first two games of the series. York will go for the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final game of the season’s first half.
The Revs got out to a lead early, thanks to three errors in the first inning as York sent eight men to the plate. Alexi Casilla singled up the middle with one away, and then with two outs, Michael Burgess walked, and the duo came around to score on a fly ball off the bat of Dayron Varona which was overrun and then dropped down the left field line by Derek Miller. Jared Mitchell followed with a bloop single to left as Miller’s troubles continued, losing his footing and landing on his chest while attempting to make a play on the ball, and the Revs took a 3-0 lead.
York added a run in the second. Alonzo Harris legged out a double on a diving attempt that Joe Benson was unable to secure in right. Isaias Tejeda then came through with a two-out single through the left side to extend the York lead to 4-0.
On the mound, Gause was fabulous. He allowed just four hits, all singles, and did not walk a batter. He struck out 11, the most of any Revs pitcher this season, and at one point retired 13 in-a-row. Gause (2-0) earned his second win of the season, dropping his ERA to 2.20 on the year.
In the home fifth, Carlos Triunfel took Skeeter starter Mitch Talbot deep over the Arch Nemesis in left for his fourth home run of the year, extending the Revs lead to 5-0.
Following a scoreless frame from Joe Van Meter in the seventh, the Skeeters would score a run in the eighth off of Waldis Joaquin on a double from Anthony Giansanti to make it 5-1.
York would respond with a pair in the eighth off of former Rev Julio DePaula. Harris walked with two outs ahead of back-to-back RBI doubles from Casilla and Tejeda to push the lead to 7-1.
The Revs brought in Jose Arredondo for the ninth, and after striking out Bryan Pounds, he gave up a double to Hector Olivero off of the Arch Nemesis. Two batters later Joe Benson hit a two-run home run to left-center field, but Arredondo would bounce back, getting Miller to pop out to seal the victory.
The Revs will go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon when they send Frank Gailey (5-6, 5.53) to the hill to face off with Michael Nix (6-5, 2.46). It’s Princess Day at the ballpark, and there will be a patriotic-themed jersey auction presented by PSECU benefiting Children's Miracle Network. It’s also $1 Dog Day courtesy of Hatfield Quality Meats, with pre-game player autographs and catch on the field and post-game kids run the bases. For tickets visit yorkrevolution.com, call 717-801-HITS, or come into the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office.
Darrell Henry and Matt Present will be on the air at 12:40 p.m. on 1350 WOYK, as well as online at woyk1350.com and on the WOYK App.
NOTES:
The victory was the Revs’ fourth consecutive win over the Skeeters, the first time that York has beaten Sugar Land in four straight in franchise history. The Revs have never swept the Skeeters in six seasons. York has now won four of its last five at home, and five of its last seven. Gause is the first Revs pitcher to strike out 11 batters in a game since Micah Owings did it on August 5, 2016 at Southern Maryland.
