(September 1, 2017 – Bridgeport, Ct.): The York Revolution built a big lead and held on late to knock off the Bridgeport Bluefish 10-8 in the opener of a four-game series on Friday night at Harbor Yard. The win is the third consecutive victory for the Revs who remain one game ahead of Lancaster for first place in the Freedom Division with a 32-23 second half record.
Michael Burgess belted a pair of home runs and Isaias Tejeda drove in four to lead the offensive attack in Friday’s victory.
Telvin Nash provided the opening salvo, launching a moonshot solo homer deep over the wall in left as the Revs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second. It was Nash’s 14th home run in 33 games this season, his sixth in the last eight contests, and 42nd all-time with York, tying Jason Aspito for fourth most in franchise history.
Burgess drilled a solo shot to right-center two innings later, giving the Revs a 2-0 lead.
York starter Frank Gailey was sharp early and faced the minimum through three innings. Luis Hernandez got Bridgeport on the board, lining a homer to left in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1, but Gailey set down the next three.
The Revs erupted for four runs in the fifth, all with two outs. Alonzo Harris drove in the first run on a bloop infield single, and after Jared Mitchell kept the inning alive with a walk, Tejeda laced a bases clearing three-run double to left, past the sliding attempt of left fielder Andrew Lambo as York’s lead grew to 6-1.
Bridgeport plated an unearned run in the sixth on a sac fly by Sean Burroughs, but the Revs responded in a big way, scoring three times in the seventh to go in front 9-2.
Travis Witherspoon sparked the seventh inning rally with a leadoff single and stole both second and third, scoring on a one-out single to right by Mitchell. With two outs, Burgess clobbered his second homer of the night, a two-run blast to right-center.
Bridgeport made things tight in the eighth, sending ten men to the plate and scoring five times to pull within 9-7. Angel Rosa began things with a leadoff walk and scored with one out on a double to right-center by D’Arby Myers. After a walk to Welington Dotel, Burroughs slapped an RBI double down the third base line, and Jonathan Galvez drove a two-run double off the base of the wall in left-center, ending the night for Gailey who had allowed just one earned run through seven innings, working into the eighth for the second time on the season. Angelys Nina squibbed an RBI single through the right side to put the tying runner on base, but reliever Michael Click escaped further trouble with a fly out.
The Revs plated an insurance run in the ninth as Harris reached on an infield single with one out, stole second and third, and scored on a Tejeda sac fly to right for a 10-7 lead.
Ricardo Gomez finished it off with his first save of the season in the ninth. The righty found himself in trouble after a walk and a single, but retired Dotel on a fly out, Burroughs on an RBI groundout, and Galvez on a ground ball to first, recording the final out himself while covering the bag.
Gailey (12-9) picked up his third straight win and league-leading 12th victory of the season. The lefty has become the league’s first to 10, 11, and 12 victories over his last three starts.
Notes: Burgess’ two-homer game is his first since July 5, 2014 at Lynchburg (with High-A Frederick)… he is the fifth Revs batter to go deep twice in a game this season and second on the current road trip as Alexi Casilla did so on Wednesday at Long Island… the Revs have hit 18 home runs in their last seven games and have a league-leading 123 long balls on the season… the Revs’ six stolen bases tie the third most in a game in club history; it is their most since a seven-steal game on July 30, 2015 at Southern Maryland… the Revs’ previous season-high for steals in a game was three, most recently matched the previous night in Thursday’s win at Long Island… Gomez’ save is the 23rd of his Revs career, tying Franklin Nunez (2007-08) for fourth most in team history… Gailey’s win is the 23rd of his Revs career, third most in team history… his 12 wins are tied for fourth most in a season in club history and are the most by a Revs pitcher since Chris Cody’s club record 15 in 2013… the five-run eighth is only the fifth inning of five runs or more allowed by the Revs this season, and first since June 21; York has scored five runs or more in an inning 15 times. York lefty Jared Gaynor (1-1, 4.41) starts Saturday’s game against the Bluefish at 6:12 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 5:50 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
