(July 13, 2022 – Charleston, WV): Boosted by a clutch go-ahead two-run double by Jack Kenley and a two-run homer by Carlos Franco, the 50th of his York Revolution career, Alex Sanabia shoved for six strong innings as the Revs knocked off the Charleston Dirty Birds, 5-1 in the nightcap of a twi-night doubleheader at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday evening. The win gave the Revs a split after dropping the opener, 4-2.
York jumped to a first inning lead in the nightcap as JC Encarnacion led off with a single to right and Elmer Reyes drove his league-leading 25th double to deep center. That set the table for Franco who grounded to short, plating Encarnacion for a quick 1-0 lead.
Charleston tied it in the bottom of the second as Alfredo Gonzalez launched a solo homer to left, celebrating his 30th birthday in style by tying the game at 1-1.
York went back in front in the top of the fourth. Down in the count 1-2, Josue Herrera took a hit by pitch on the arm from Dirty Birds starter Michael Gunn (2-2). Troy Stokes Jr. followed with a base hit to right on an 0-2 offering. After both advanced on a wild pitch, Kenley lined a one-out double down the left field line, plating both runners for a 3-1 lead.
Franco slammed a line drive over the fence in right-center an inning later, as his 24th home run of the season, a two-run shot, extended the lead to 5-1.
Sanabia (4-3) allowed just two hits, none after the third inning, in six innings of work to pick up the win. He walked none, struck out four, and allowed just four base runners all night, two of which came on back-to-back hit by pitches in his sixth and final inning.
Nick Howard closed the victory with a scoreless seventh, finishing off the two-hitter.
The Revs battled back to tie the opener twice but never led.
Charleston scored the first run of the day as Nick Heath connected on a solo homer to right-center in the bottom of the third.
Franco lined an RBI double to left-center in the top of the fourth, plating Reyes who had reached on an error, tying the game at 1-1 on an unearned tally.
The Dirty Birds went back ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double to left by Tyler Blaum.
The Revs again answered in the fifth as Stokes Jr. lined a leadoff triple past Heath who lost sight of the ball in the sunlight in center field. Connor Lien followed with an RBI double down the left field line for a 2-2 tie.
Charleston went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth against Revs starter Eduardo Rivera, scoring on a Nick Longhi RBI single to center and an RBI double to deep center by Engel Beltre.
Rivera (5-2) suffered the loss, charged with four runs on eight in five innings.
Carlos Ventura worked a scoreless sixth inning out of the bullpen and induced a ground ball double play in his fourth consecutive inning.
The Revs will go for the series win on Thursday night in the final game of a six-game road trip as Nick Travieso (2-5, 5.30) faces Jose Mesa Jr. (4-3, 5.14). Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and the WOYK YouTube channel beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
Notes: Through Thursday’s game, the Revs will have played 48 road games compared to just 26 home games; York will finish the season with 43 home games and just 15 road games over the final 58 contests. Franco totaled four RBI in the doubleheader including three in the nightcap, increasing his league-leading total to 79. His 24th home run of the season tied Jason Aspito (2008) for fifth-most in a season in franchise history and the most by a left-handed hitter. It was the 50th home run of his Revs career, becoming the sixth in franchise history to reach that mark.
