(July 4, 2017 – Bridgeport, Ct.): The York Revolution built an early six-run lead and clung to the advantage as Brad Allen induced a bases loaded double play in the ninth for a 6-5 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish on Independence Day, Tuesday afternoon in front of 3,125 fans at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, evening their second half record at 1-1.
York got off to an immediate quick start at the plate as Alonzo Harris lined the game’s first pitch down the left field line for a leadoff double. After an infield single by Alexi Casilla, Isaias Tejeda ripped a line drive sac fly to left for a 1-0 lead.
Jared Mitchell ignited a three-run outburst in the second with a bullet double down the first base line, and scored on a one-out single up the middle by Carlos Triunfel. Angel Franco kept things moving with a single to right, and Travis Witherspoon put a ground ball in play, picking up an RBI on an error as Triunfel crossed the plate. With two outs, Casilla drilled an RBI double to right for a 4-0 lead.
Mitchell again jumpstarted things in the third with another leadoff double, belted off the base of the wall in right-center. Chase Simpson followed with a two-bagger to nearly the identical spot, bouncing over the fence for a ground rule double, driving in Mitchell. Simpson scored on a two-out infield hit by Witherspoon for a 6-0 lead.
Of York’s first 18 batters, 11 reached base including nine hits, and six scored. The Revs would cling to the lead, as Bridgeport pitching went on to retire 19 of York’s final 20 batters in the game.
Revs starter Logan Williamson (2-5) was strong in the win, limiting the Bluefish to two runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings. He has allowed just two earned runs in 15.2 innings over his last three appearances.
Williamson afforded Bridgeport only a pair of sac flies. Gustavo Molina got the Bluefish on the board in the fourth, but Harris made a great grab on the play near the fencing along the left field line, as Williamson escaped a bases loaded, one-out jam to allow only one run. Jonathan Galvez provided a sixth inning sac fly to draw the Bluefish within 6-2.
Bridgeport continued to inch back, scoring a run off reliever Michael Click in the seventh. Molina drew a leadoff walk in the inning, and went to third on a double by Angel Rosa before scoring on a pinch-hit ground out by Angelys Nina. With the tying run at the plate, Ricardo Gomez entered to retire Jose Gil on a fly out.
The Bluefish scored twice in the eighth to pull within a run, and put the tying run in scoring position as lefty Chase Huchingson was touched for two runs, just the third time the All-Star selection has allowed multiple runs all season. A one-out single by Galvez and a walk to Andrew Lambo put two men on, and Galvez came around to score on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Dent, attempting a force play at second. Tony Abreu then singled Lambo home on a base hit to left, making it 6-5. Fellow All-Star Brad Allen entered, putting a stop to the rally by retiring Rosa on a line out to center and Nina on a fielder’s choice.
Going for the five-out save, Allen recorded a fly out to begin the ninth, but Gil bunted for a single, Daniel Fields walked, and Galvez blooped a single to shallow right to load the bases. Allen rebounded, however, retiring Lambo on a one-hop 4-6-3 double play, as Dent’s relay to first just beat the runner, securing the nailbiting victory.
Notes: Allen ties a season-high by recording five outs, and claims his eighth save in nine opportunities, breaking a tie for fourth most in the league. York snaps a four-game losing streak on July 4, three of which had occurred in Bridgeport, picking up their first Independence Day victory since 2012 vs. Somerset and first on the road since 2009 at Lancaster. York righty Victor Mateo (3-5, 3.68) makes the start on Wednesday in the third game of the four-game series at 7:12 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 6:50 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
