BOX SCORE
The York Revolution mounted a late comeback bid but fell to the New Britain Bees, 4-3 on Thursday night in the opening game of a four-game series in front of a season-high 6,033 fans at PeoplesBank Park. The Revs fall to 20-14 in the second half, remaining one game back of first place in the Freedom Division.
Trailing 4-0 in the seventh, Isaias Tejeda launched a Mike Lee offering over the fence in left center for a two-run homer to cut the deficit in half, and Jared Mitchell brought York within one on a double in the eighth but the Revs were unable to find the equalizer.
Revs starter Victor Mateo needed just 16 pitches to get through the first two frames but ran into trouble in the third. With two outs and a runner at first, the Bees strung together three straight hits to plate three runs. James Skelton blooped a single to keep the inning alive and Michael Crouse took advantage with an RBI single to left for the game’s first run. New Britain was helped by a throwing error by Tejeda who tried to throw behind Crouse at first, allowing two runners to advance. Jovan Rosa came through with a two-run single to left-center to punctuate the outburst.
Jamar Walton smacked a leadoff home run to right field in the sixth to extend the lead to 4-0.
Mateo (5-7) finished the sixth to record his seventh quality start of the season, allowing four runs (three earned) despite suffering the loss.
Lee (3-6) allowed just one hit and three total baserunners through his first six innings, retiring 11 straight at one point. Mitchell led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right ahead of the Tejeda home run, his 14th of the season, chasing Lee on just the third hit of the game for the Revs.
York picked up an unearned run in the eighth inning to trim the lead to one. Travis Witherspoon reached on an error by pitcher Brandon League who hit Witherspoon with the ball on an attempted throw to first after fielding a swinging bunt. Two batter later, Mitchell launched an opposite field shot off the top left corner of the Arch Nemesis in left to score Witherspoon, but Mitchell was stranded at third to end the inning.
Joe Van Meter worked a perfect seventh, Luke Westphal struck out the side in the eighth, and Michael Click fired a scoreless ninth, keeping the Revs within a run.
Telvin Nash reached on a one-out bloop to shallow right in the bottom of the ninth to put the tying run aboard and was lifted for pinch runner Alexi Casilla. Dayron Varona was retired on a double play ball, however, as the Bees hung on with Shawn Gilblair notching his 11th save.
The Revs remain one game back of Lancaster, who fell to Somerset, in the Freedom Division, and send lefty Frank Gailey (9-8, 4.40) to the hill to face off with New Britain lefty Greg Nappo (1-1, 4.23) on Friday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The ZOOperstars make an appearance at PeoplesBank Park presented by Penn-Mar Human Services, and it’s also Boy Scout Night. For tickets visit yorkrevolution.com, the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office, or call 717-801-HITS.
Darrell Henry and Matt Present will be on the call beginning at 6:10 p.m. on 1350 WOYK as well as online at woyk1350.com, the WOYK Youtube channel, and the WOYK App.
NOTES: For the first time this season Alonzo Harris did not reach base at home, snapping his streak of 34 consecutive games. Mitchell extended his home on base streak to 23 in a row, tied with Tejeda (2016) and Ramon Castro (2010) for sixth all-time. Thursday’s crowd of 6,033 was the largest crowd on hand at PeoplesBank Park this season, eclipsing the previous high of 5,367 in the home opener on April 28. After striking out the side in the eighth, Westphal has now struck out 25 batters while walking only one in 13.0 innings over his last 12 appearances.