(August 28, 2017 – Central Islip, NY): Jared Gaynor gave the York Revolution a strong six innings in a spot starting role, but the Revs dropped the opener of an eight-game, seven-day road trip to the Long Island Ducks, 5-4 on Monday night in front of 5,283 fans at Bethpage Ballpark. The Revs fall to 29-22 in the second half and slip into a tie for first place with Lancaster with 19 games to go in the regular season.
The Revs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Isaias Tejeda and Michael Burgess singled before Telvin Nash walked to load the bases with one out. Dayron Varona lined a sacrifice fly to center to produce the game’s first run.
Gaynor was excellent through the first four innings, holding the Ducks scoreless on just three hits.
Trouble brewed in the fifth as an infield single and an error kicked off the inning for Long Island, and Dan Lyons sacrificed both runners ahead. With the infield in, Jordan Hinshaw sliced a two-run single to right to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead. Delta Cleary, Jr. followed with what appeared to be a base hit to center, but the ball took off as it hit the grass and skipped all the way toward the warning track for a two-run inside the park home run, giving the Ducks a 4-1 advantage.
Jared Mitchell pulled a two-run single through the right side off lefty reliever Patrick Crider with two outs in the sixth, bringing the Revs back within a run at 4-3. Alexi Casilla walked to reload the bases, but righty Matt Marsh entered to record a ground out. The Revs stranded a total of 11 base runners on the night.
Gaynor (1-1) rebounded with a scoreless sixth inning, completing a quality start as he allowed just three earned runs despite suffering the loss. It was his fourth career start and first since 2014, with all 11 of his previous outings on the season lasting one inning or shorter.
Long Island pushed across an insurance run in the seventh as Dan Lyons came home on a passed ball that occurred on a two-out walk to Lew Ford. The Revs were charged with two unearned runs in the one-run loss.
Telvin Nash clobbered a solo homer to left with two outs in the ninth, but Ducks closer Amalio Diaz allowed nothing else, recording his 14th save. Diaz was helped by Ford in left field who made a fine running grab on a deep line drive off the bat of Isaias Tejeda for the first out of the inning, keeping the tying run on deck at the time.
Notes: Cleary’s inside the park home run marked the fourth in a game in Revs history and the third against York. It is the first in a Revolution game since York outfielder Tim Battle circled the bases on August 20, 2014 vs. Lancaster. It is the first by an opponent since September 19, 2012 at Sugar Land (Steve Moss). York righty Jake Ezell worked a 1-2-3 eighth in his first appearance since August 8. Long Island is 20-5 in its last 25 games, and 11-2 in its last 13 one-run games. York falls to 19-28 in one-run contests. Each of the Revs’ last five games have been decided by two runs or fewer, as have 12 of the last 15 contests. Nash’s home run is his 11th in just 29 games on the season, while his RBI total climbs to 29. It marks the 39th home run of his Revs career, breaking a tie with Eric Patterson for seventh most in team history. Nash extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games and also drew three of York’s seven walks. Casilla doubled and tripled, pushing his hitting streak to nine. Tejeda singled in the third, upping his streak to 12 games. Luis Cruz made his second career start at third base and second in as many days. Chase Simpson made his first career start at shortstop and started a double play on his first chance in the second inning. Mitchell led off for just the third time this season and first since May 3. York lefty Logan Williamson (5-8, 5.00) squares off with Long Island right hander Jake Dunning (2-1, 2.03) on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
