(June 21, 2019 – York, Pa.): Ian Thomas tossed six strong innings as the York Revolution won for the ninth time in the last 10 games and 11th in the last 13, defeating the Somerset Patriots 2-1 on Friday night at PeoplesBank Park. The Revs will go for a fourth consecutive series win on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Thomas took the mound for his fifth start of the season against the first-place Patriots and was effective early, working a perfect first inning.
Somerset starter Ryan Kussmaul answered by striking out the side in order to keep things scoreless after one inning of play.
The sharp start for both pitchers continued into the second inning. After Thomas allowed the first two Patriots to reach base, Craig Massey grounded into a double play to give York two quick outs. Michael Crouse walked, but Thomas got Scott Kelly to fly out to retire the side.
Kussmaul worked around a lead off single from Carlos Franco to set down the next three batters in order in the bottom of the second.
The Patriots took the game’s first lead in the top of the third inning. Yovan Gonzalez and Justin Pacchioli singled to set the table to lead off the inning. Rey Navarro dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with one out. The next batter, Mike Ohlman, hit a sharp ground ball to Henry Castillo at third who threw home to nail Gonzalez at the plate for out number two. Will Kengor continued be a York killer this season, however, as he lined a two-out RBI single to left to score Pacchioli and give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
York fought back to tie the game in their half of the third. Ryan Dent led off the inning by hitting a single to center field and Justin Trapp drew a walk to give the Revs runners on first and second with nobody out. Dent was caught stealing between second and third, but Trapp moved to second to keep the threat alive with one out. Trapp stole third as Kussmaul retired Alvaro Rondon on a strike out, and scored as Castillo delivered an RBI single to left with two outs to tie the game at 1-1.
Thomas rebounded nicely in the top of the fourth inning as he worked around a lead off single to set down the next three Pats in order.
Kussmaul worked out of a jam as he stranded runners on the corners in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game tied.
Thomas worked a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, making it six straight batters retired.
For the third consecutive inning, York recorded two singles in the bottom of the fifth but both were stranded on an inning-ending double play.
Thomas struck out Mike Ohlman to begin the top of the sixth before Kengor drew a walk with one out. Thomas promptly got Alfredo Rodriguez to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the frame and end an impressive day on the mound for the York left-hander who improved to 2-0 on the season.
Kussmaul began his sixth inning of work by retiring Franco on a diving catch by left fielder Scott Kelly. Sportman continued his torrid June by smashing a one-out double down the left field line to give York a runner in scoring position. After Sportman stole third base, Welington Dotel slapped a chopper to Navarro at third, scoring Sportman. The throw from Navarro was late, giving Dotel an RBI infield single and York a 2-1 lead.
Phil Walby was called upon to hold the lead out of the Revs bullpen in the seventh. Walby worked a perfect frame while striking out Massey to record his first hold of the season.
After the Revs were held scoreless in their half of the seventh, Julio Perez took the mound with the one-run lead. Perez worked around two walks to record a scoreless inning and secure his third hold of the year.
For the second straight night, Jameson McGrane was chosen to save the game for York. McGrane got the job done as he allowed just a two-out walk to Crouse. Castillo made a tremendous leaning catch into the stands for the final out against pinch-hitter Ramon Flores, giving York the 1-0 series lead.
Recap by Brett Pietrzak
Notes: The win is the Revs’ first of the season against the Patriots in seven tries. York is 3-1 on the current homestand, all against first place teams. All three wins have been comeback victories, as have four of the Revs’ last five wins. For the second consecutive night, Sportman doubled and scored the winning run on a Dotel hit. Sportman (2-for-4) extended his hitting streak to 19 consecutive games, the league’s longest this season and 10th longest in Revs history (longest since Alexi Casilla had a 23-gamer in 2017). Sportman posted multiple hits for the fifth straight game and had an extra-base hit for the sixth time in the last seven. Dotel’s RBI gives him nine in the last four games, 12 in the last six games, and 16 in the last 11 games while he also extended his hitting streak to eight. Franco (2-for-4) has hit safely in eight straight and posted his fifth multi-hit game in his first 10 games with York. Perez logged a ninth straight scoreless outing and has allowed just two hits on that stretch; it was also his 14th scoreless appearance in the last 15. McGrane extended scoreless streaks of 15 appearances and 14.1 innings and worked a fifth straight outing without allowing a hit. York’s bullpen totaled three no-hit innings as the Revs out-hit the Patriots 11-5 for the game. York righty Dan Minor (4-4, 4.89) faces Somerset right-hander Liam O’Sullivan (3-3, 3.40) on Saturday night. It is The Office Night with The Office themed Jersey Auction presented by PSECU to benefit Children’s Miracle Network. It is also Softball Night and features Post-Game Fireworks presented by Mid Atlantic Industrial Equipment. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Revs Ticket Office.
