(June 13, 2018) - The York Revolution split a doubleheader with the Somerset Patriots on Wednesday evening, taking the opener 3-1 behind a pair of clutch home runs before dropping the nightcap 4-1 in front of 3,535 fans at TD Bank Ballpark.
The opening game win was a comeback victory for the Revs, as the Patriots plated an early run in the second inning on an RBI single to left-center by Alfredo Rodriguez. Only one run scored on the play, as Endy Chavez previously failed to get down a sacrifice, bunting into a fielder's choice for the first out. A two-out single by Yovan Gonzalez loaded the bases, but Revs starter Dominic Severino retired Julio Borbon on a grounder to second to limit the Patriots to a 1-0 lead.
Welington Dotel led off the fourth with a game-tying solo homer to left-center, as his second of the year brought the Revs even at 1-1.
Travis Witherspoon worked a two-out walk to keep the fifth inning alive and stole second, putting himself in position to give the Revs the lead on a base hit. Jared Mitchell provided an even bigger hit, launching a two-run homer to right field, as the Revs suddenly held a 3-1 advantage.
Severino dominated after the second inning, retiring eight straight and 11 of 12 with only a defensive error landing a base runner during that stretch. He was lifted after allowing a one-out single to Danny Dorn in the bottom of the sixth, but Jailen Peguero entered to retire Justin Trapp on a ground ball double play to second baseman Alexi Casilla on his only pitch thrown.
Grant Sides was greeted with a double to right-center by Chavez in the bottom of the seventh, but the Revs closer retired Rodriguez on a fly out to center and struck out the next two batters, nailing down his third save.
Severino (3-3) earned the win, holding the Patriots to one run on four hits in 5.1 innings, walking only one and striking out four.
Patriots starter Kyle Davies (0-3) absorbed the loss, allowing three runs in his six innings.
The Patriots also grabbed the initial lead in the nightcap, after Somerset's defense denied the Revs of early control.
With the game scoreless in the top of the third, Luis Cruz walked with one out and Witherspoon singled to set up a threat. With two outs, Melky Mesa clubbed a drive to deep center, but Borbon made a great running grab, extending high to reel in a shot that would have given the Revs a two-run lead.
York starter Logan Williamson returned to the Revs, making his season debut in the nightcap and retired his first six batters faced.
Rodriguez grounded a seeing-eye single into left to lead off the home third, giving the Patriots their first base runner. Mike Fransoso reached on a bunt hit, dropping down a perfect drag bunt that Williamson overran attempting to scoop with the glove. Adam Weisenburger sacrificed both runners ahead, and Borbon chopped an RBI infield single to short, bringing home the game's first run. Justin Pacchioli completed the small-ball display with a squeeze bunt to second, bringing home Fransoso to make it 2-0. The leadoff single from Rodriguez was the only ball to leave the infield during the rally.
Witherspoon connected on an opposite field solo homer to right with two outs in the fifth, as the Revs climbed within 2-1. All four runs scored by the Revs in Wednesday's doubleheader came on three long balls.
Williamson embarked on another stretch of six consecutive hitters retired beginning with Pacchioli's squeeze bunt and including a perfect fourth inning. A one-out walk to Fransoso in the fifth ended his night, and Weisenburger greeted reliever Zac Treece with a two-run homer to left-center, providing the final scoring.
Somerset starter Duane Below (2-2) earned his second win of the season, both against York, holding the Revs to one run on four hits in five innings, walking one and striking out six. Logan Kensing and Ryan Kelly (eighth save) each handled scoreless innings out of the bullpen to close it out.
Williamson (0-1) suffered the loss, charged with three runs on three hits in 4.1 innings while walking just one.
The Revs go for a four-game series split on Thursday with Mitch Atkins (1-3, 6.28) facing righty David Kubiak (2-0, 1.05) at 7:05 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, The New WOYK app, and WOYK 1350 on YouTube beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
Notes: Each team totaled just five hits in the first game, while the teams each posted just four hits in the nightcap. The Revs offense has been limited to just 11 runs over the last six games, but Revs pitching has allowed only 13 runs in the last five games and just nine runs over the last four contests. Williamson made his 73rd start in a Revs uniform, and increased his innings total to 397.2 with York, both third-most in franchise history. He increased his strikeout total to 191, fifth-most. Williamson also ranks fourth in club history with 21 wins, and has now suited up for the Revs in parts of four seasons, second on the current club behind reliever Ricardo Gomez who is in his sixth season with York. Williamson finished at just 47 pitches, and had thrown only 27 through the first three innings including eight in the two-run third inning, as each of the final four batters of the inning put the first pitch in play.
