(August 17, 2022 – York, Pa.): Melky Mesa launched the 70th home run and notched the 300th RBI of his illustrious York Revolution career as the Revs picked up the 999th win in franchise history with a 10-3 stomping of the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday night at PeoplesBank Park. In another tense War of the Roses matchup, York held off the Community Cup swap for another night, using a huge seven-run seventh inning to put the game on ice and sew up a series victory as the Revs will go for the sweep on Thursday night.
The Barnstormers took the lead two batters into the game as a potential double play ball was missed when Yefri Perez lost sight of third baseman Josue Herrera’s throw to second in the setting sunlight, allowing Melvin Mercedes to scamper all the way home from first to score the game’s first run.
Mesa answered back to lead off the second, driving a solo home run over the Arch Nemesis to even the scoring at 1-1. It was the 70th long ball of Mesa’s Revs career and the 299th RBI of his tenure.
In the top of the fourth, the Barnstormers got greedy in trying to take the lead as Trace Loehr was sent on a single to left field but was gunned down at the plate by Mesa to end the inning. It was the second straight night with an outfield assist for Mesa, tying him for second in team history with James Shanks at 29 in his Revs career. He now sits behind only Scott Grimes with 32 for the franchise lead.
The Revs took advantage of two Barnstormer errors in the fourth to go in front. Nellie Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by Anderson Feliz, and Mesa’s infield single was compounded by a throwing error from pitcher Erik Manoah, putting runners at the corners. A bloop single into left field by Perez put the Revs ahead 2-1.
York starter Duke von Schamann completed his fifth inning of work in line for the win, allowing just one unearned run while striking out four in yet another great start against the Barnstormers.
Tensions rose to begin the bottom of the fifth when Lenin Rodriguez and Lancaster catcher Chris Proctor had a heated exchange of words after Rodriguez appeared to question a strike call. Despite early efforts to break up the skirmish, benches emptied between the teams for the second time this season. Rodriguez sparked the Revs after the incident by walking on four straight balls and made his way to third on a JC Encarnacion double to left, his seventh double in as many games. Rodriguez scored on a ground out by Telvin Nash to give York a 3-1 lead.
Carlos Ventura started the sixth but left with an apparent injury after a hit batter and a single, relieved by Roniel Raudes. Mercedes squared to bunt and reached on a throwing error by Raudes which allowed Joseph Carpenter to score as York’s lead was suddenly in peril at 3-2. Raudes tiptoed through the inning without any further damage, stranding the bases loaded on two strikeouts and a ground out, keeping it a 3-2 game.
Tuck Tucker bounced back from a tough outing on Sunday in clutch fashion with a scoreless seventh inning to hold the lead, the 17th scoreless outing in 20 appearances to begin his pro career.
The Revs put the game away in the bottom of the seventh. Five straight reached to start the rally with the first four reaching against lefty Cam Booser, including three walks. The one hit against Booser was an RBI single up the middle from Elmer Reyes, his first hit since missing a week due to injury. Nellie Rodriguez pushed more across with a two-run double that one-hopped the wall in deep right center field, and Mesa plated another with a sac fly to deep left for the 300th RBI of his Revs career, bringing him within 12 of Andres Perez for the all-time franchise mark. Josue Herrera got on the board with an RBI single later in the inning, and the seven-run frame was capped off by a Connor Lien two-run homer deep over the Arch Nemesis, putting York ahead 10-2.
Brett de Geus rolled a double play ball to end a scoreless eighth, and York turned to Nick Green for the ninth. Green allowed an RBI ground out in the ninth but no further damage, locking up the victory.
Lancaster went 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position, stranding 16 runners on the night including at least one runner in every inning.
The victory brings the Revs’ all-time record to 999-999. For Revs manager Mark Mason, it was the 596th victory of his career as Revolution manager as he approaches #600.
In the search for franchise win number 1,000 and a series sweep, the Revs will turn to Eduardo Rivera, taking the mound against Lancaster’s Nile Ball on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. It is Throwback Thursday (Westerns), Ag & Farm Night presented by The Mill with PeoplesBank Barnyard Brawl Jersey Auction benefiting 4-H. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
Notes: von Schamann (6-4) earned the win, the 21st of his Revs career, moving past Wayne Franklin for seventh all-time in Revs history.
