The York Revolution jumped out to a four-run lead through three innings, but it slowly slipped away as the Bridgeport Bluefish would score a run in the ninth to take a 5-4 victory in front of 4,476 fans at PeoplesBank Park on Saturday night.
The Revs got on the board in the second inning. Jared Mitchell singled to right field with one away, advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw from Bluefish starter Rainy Lara, and moved up to third on a single by Dayron Varona. The next batter was Luis Cruz who came through with a swinging bunt up the third base line to bring home Mitchell and give the Revs a 1-0 lead.
The Revs went right back to work against Lara in the third. Travis Witherspoon got on to begin the frame on an error by Bridgeport shortstop Luis Hernandez, and Alexi Casilla followed with a single up the middle to extend his hitting streak to 14 games in-a-row. Witherspoon raced from first to third on the play, drawing a throw which allowed Casilla to move up to second. Isaias Tejeda continued his hot hitting at the plate, driving a ball back up the middle to score both runners, pushing the lead to 3-0. With two outs, Cruz came through again with a single to center to score Tejeda, making it 4-0 Revs. Cruz finished the night 3-for-4, after going just three for his previous 22.
Revs starter Victor Mateo put his team in position to win through five strong innings. The lone run against him came in the fourth inning when Tony Abreu singled through the right side, stole second, and came in to score on an Ozney Guillen double down the line in right. Mateo was able to strand six runners and finished his night with a three-up, three-down fifth, retiring the final five batters he faced overall.
The Bluefish got to the York bullpen in the sixth. Jose Arredondo walked Jonathan Galvez to begin the frame, and after a balk to advance Galvez to second, Abreu came through with an RBI single through the right side. Mark Mason called on lefty Chase Huchingson who stuck out the first two batters he faced on just six pitches. However, Huchingson struggled to get the final out, giving up an infield single to D’Arby Myers which brought home Abreu, but eventually working out of the jam to keep the 4-3 lead intact.
Gustavo Molina took Ricardo Gomez deep down the line in left for a home run to tie the score at 4-4, leading off the eighth. It was Molina’s first home run of the season and just his fourth hit in eight games played with Bridgeport.
With the game deadlocked at four in the ninth, Revs closer Brad Allen came on. He allowed the first two men to reach on a single and a walk, but rolled a double play ball, setting up a runner at third with two outs in the ninth. Abreu came through again, driving the ball the opposite way off the wall in left, bringing home the go-ahead runner, Cuevas, from third which proved to be the eventual game winner.
The Bluefish bullpen stymied the Revs who were able to manufacture just five baserunners in their final six frames. The four-run lead squandered is the largest margin given up by the Revs in a loss this season.
York will aim to salvage the final game of the three game set on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they send left hander Frank Gailey (6-6, 4.92) to the mound to face off with Bluefish righty Jorge Perez (0-0, 0.00). It’s National Ice Cream Day, and fans can enjoy a free single serving of delicious Yuengling's Ice Cream and enter to win a year's supply of ice cream courtesy of Weis Markets. It’s also $1 Dog Day courtesy of Hatfield Quality Meats, and there will also be pre-game player autographs and catch on the field, as well as post-game kids run the bases. For tickets visit yorkrevolution.com, the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office, or call 717-801-HITS.
Darrell Henry and Matt Present will bring you all the action from PeoplesBank Park beginning at 12:40 p.m. on 1350 WOYK, as well as online at woyk1350.com, YorkRevsTV.com, and on the WOYK App.
