(August 14, 2019 – Central Islip, NY): The York Revolution suffered a pair of extra-inning defeats in a doubleheader sweep to the Long Island Ducks, falling 3-2 and 1-0, both in eight innings on Wednesday night in front of 4,525 fans at Bethpage Ballpark. The Revs now sit at 20-12 in the second half with a one-game lead for first place and will look to avoid the series sweep on Thursday night before returning home Friday to open a seven-game homestand.
Long Island plated the first run of the evening in the bottom of the first inning in game one on a Hector Sanchez RBI single to left-center.
York was kept off the board through the opening three innings by Ducks starter Darin Downs, but drew even in the fourth as Carlos Franco slugged an opposite field game-tying solo homer to left-center, leveling the action at 1-1.
Melky Mesa led off the fifth with a single to right and Ryan Dent doubled down the left field line to put two in scoring position with no outs as the Revs appeared poised to take flight offensively. But after a one-out intentional walk to Justin Trapp loaded the bases, the Revs could only muster one run on a free pass to Angelys Nina forcing in a run to make it 2-1. Downs retired the next two batters to minimize the damage.
D’Arby Myers led off the bottom of the fifth with a first-pitch home run to left, tying the game at 2-2 as the Revs’ lone lead of the night proved to be short-lived.
The bullpens matched scoreless frames to force extra innings, but after the Revs failed to plate their runner from second in the top of the eighth, the Ducks walked off in the opener on Deibinson Romero’s two-out RBI single to deep left for the 3-2 final.
Revs starter Mitch Atkins and Ducks hurler Vin Mazzaro locked horns in a classic pitchers’ duel in the nightcap, both firing seven shutout innings with just four hits allowed.
Atkins allowed three singles in the third inning but left the bases loaded and otherwise faced the minimum while walking none and striking out a season-high nine batters.
Mesa singled in both the third and fifth innings and stole second base both times but the Revs could not capitalize. Franco singled with one out in the seventh and reached second on a wild pitch, but again Mazzaro kept the Revs wanting by retiring the next two.
Zach Sullivan sacrificed Mesa ahead to third base to begin the top of the eighth with the game still scoreless, but Ducks reliever Pedro Beato (2-2) recorded a pop out and a strike out to deny the Revs again as York went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in both games.
Ramon Cabrera sacrificed Daniel Fields to third base to begin the bottom of the eighth, setting up Sanchez who was pinch-hitting for the game-ending sac fly to left, giving the Ducks the 1-0 win and the doubleheader sweep.
Notes: The Revs had not played an extra-inning game since June 18 and had not lost an extra-inning game or a walk-off decision since June 8. York falls to 2-7 in extra-inning games on the season. It marked the first time in Revs history that both games of a doubleheader went extras. York played a 1-0 game for the first time since defeating Sugar Land 1-0 on July 20, 2018 and lost a 1-0 game for the first time since May 20, 2016 at New Britain. It was the fifth 1-0 extra-inning game in Revs history and first since July 2, 2017 vs. Sugar Land (first loss since July 31, 2010 at Southern Maryland). The game ended at 11:40 p.m., the latest of the season for the Revs. York righty Dan Minor (7-6, 4.24) will face Long Island right-hander Seth Simmons (5-7, 4.51) on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and WOYK on YouTube beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.