(July 5, 2017 – Bridgeport, Ct.): In a game in which each team led twice, it was the second lead for the Bridgeport Bluefish that provided the difference as the York Revolution fell 7-6 on Wednesday night at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, slipping to 1-2 in the second half. The Revs will go for a split on Thursday before their weeklong road trip continues to Lancaster this weekend.
The Revs scored in the first inning for the third time in as many games in the series, plating three runs for an early advantage. Bridgeport starter Kevin Jefferis needed 45 pitches, only 23 of which were strikes to get through the rocky opening frame. Alonzo Harris led off the game with a single and stole second, while Alexi Casilla was hit by a pitch and Isaias Tejeda walked to load the bases. Jared Mitchell, batting cleanup for the first time in his Revs career, ripped a two-run single to right to open the scoring. With one out, Carlos Triunfel walked to reload the bases, and Luis Cruz took another free pass, forcing in a run to make it 3-0. Jefferis eventually righted his ship, striking out the final two batters in the bat-around first inning, beginning a stretch on which he retired eight of his next nine.
Bridgeport took a brief lead with a four-run third. Jonathan Galvez got the Bluefish on the board with a sac fly to left-center. With two outs, the hosts made it a big inning as Andrew Lambo yanked a two-run double to right and Tony Abreu delivered an RBI single to right-center, giving Bridgeport a 4-3 lead.
The Revs responded right away as Angel Franco singled to left on an 0-2 pitch to lead off the fourth, and circled the bases when Jefferis threw away a pickoff attempt and right fielder Ozney Guillen airmailed third base on his throw from right field. With the game tied 4-4, Travis Witherspoon launched a triple high off the fence in right-center, ending Jefferis’ night. Harris then blooped an RBI single over a drawn-in infield to give York a 5-4 lead. After moving to second on a passed ball, Harris stole third base with one out, and scored when Tejeda chopped a single into left past a drawn-in infield for a 6-4 lead.
York was unable to add on further as Bridgeport’s bullpen kept the Revs off the board over the final five innings. Meanwhile, the Bluefish inched closer with a run in the fifth on a two-out RBI triple to right by Lambo who drove in three in the game.
Galvez provided the decisive blow on a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the seventh, his ninth of the season. Galvez joined Lambo with three RBI on the night.
Elvin Ramirez (1-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings out of the Bridgeport bullpen. Brian Moran retired the side in order in the eighth and David Carpenter did the same in the ninth, picking up his league-leading 26th save.
Luke Westphal (2-6) suffered the loss for York, allowing the Galvez homer in the seventh, his first home run allowed all season. It snapped a four-appearance scoreless streak.
Revs starter Victor Mateo took a no-decision, charged with five runs (four earned) in five innings. It was only the fourth time in 13 starts he allowed more than two earned runs. Mateo walked a season-high four batters, after issuing no walks in 25 innings over his previous four starts.
York righty Jay Gause (2-0, 2.20) gets the ball on Thursday night opposite Bridgeport right-hander Rainy Lara (7-3, 2.72) with first pitch 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.
