BOX SCORE
(September 29, 2017 – York, Pa.): Down a run in the eighth, Telvin Nash launched a go-ahead two-run home run to right-center as the York Revolution came from behind to defeat the Long Island Ducks, 3-2, capping a three-game series sweep as the Revs claim their third Atlantic League championship in 11 seasons. The game was played in front of a raucous crowd of 5,415 fans at PeoplesBank Park on Friday evening.
Trailing throughout the night, the Revs came from behind for the third time in as many games in the series, and won their third consecutive one-run decision en route to the thrilling three-game sweep.
Down 2-1, Rubi Silva (4-for-4) led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a bunt single off lefty Dustin Richardson. Right-hander Matt Marsh was called upon to face Nash, and the Revs’ first baseman connected on a 1-1 fastball, hammering a towering two-run homer that just cleared the fence to the right of the batters’ eye for a go-ahead two-run homer, as the Revs took a 3-2 lead in dramatic fashion.
Having tallied ten outs over the previous two nights, closer Chase Huchingson ceded ninth inning duties to right hander Grant Sides, who had earned the victory in each of the first two games of the series. Marc Krauss clubbed a drive toward the wall in right, but as those in attendance held their collective breaths, Jared Mitchell leapt in front of the fence to reel in the first out. Sides struck out Alex Burg for the second out, bringing the Revs within one out of a championship. Angelo Songco kept the game alive with a single to right and pinch-runner Jordan Hinshaw stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Sides retired Delta Cleary, Jr. on a ground out to short, as Ryan Dent gloved and fired to Nash at first, setting off a wild celebration between the mound and home plate as the Revs celebrated their third championship in franchise history and first since 2011.
The Revs trailed most of the night. Long Island struck first with a run in the third as Anthony Vega led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on a Giovanny Alfonzo single to right.
Long Island added another run in the fifth as Vega reached on a one-out walk, took second on a passed ball, moved to third on a bloop single by Dan Lyons, and scored on a wild pitch.
Revs starter Victor Mateo was solid, allowing only two runs (one earned) in 5.2 innings.
The Revs were frustrated offensively by Ducks starter John Brownell, missing an opportunity in the fourth when Silva led off with a double to right but was stranded.
York finally got on the board in the sixth with a two-out RBI single to center by Isaias Tejeda, plating Silva who had singled with one out. A walk to Travis Witherspoon loaded the bases with two outs, but reliever Rob Rogers entered to induce a pop out, keeping the Ducks’ lead intact at the time, only to be erased on Nash’s heroics two innings later.
Michael Click (1-0) picked up the win with 1.1 shutout innings in relief. A huge turn of events came in the top of the eighth when Silva ran down a bloop pop by Elmer Reyes, making an over-the-shoulder grab and firing to first where Nash made a great pick to retire Alfonzo on a double play. Click whiffed Lew Ford on a 1-2 cutter for an inning-ending strikeout, setting the momentum for the decisive home half of the inning.
Notes: Following the game, Nash and Huchingson were named Co-MVPs of the Championship Series. Sides added his first save of the playoffs after setting a Revs playoff record with his third win in Game Two on Thursday. Huchingson set a Revs playoff record with three saves during York’s run to the championship. Nash tied a Revs postseason record with three home runs, matching Bryant Nelson (2011), including a pair of last at-bat game-winning home runs. Nash’s eight RBI in the postseason also tied a franchise record (Ian Bladergroen, 2010). The Revs went 6-1 during their playoff run, and won 13 of their final 16 games overall. The Revs improve to 9-1 all-time in Championship Series games (5-0 at home), having secured their second sweep. The championship is their second clinched at home (also 2011 vs. Long Island). In just 11 seasons, the Revs have matched the Ducks for the second most championships in Atlantic League history with three, trailing only Somerset (six).