BOX SCORE
Michael Burgess went deep in the first, Carlos Triunfel hit the tiebreaking shot in the sixth, and Luis Cruz enjoyed a two homer game as the York Revolution defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers, 9-3 in front of 5,005 fans at PeoplesBank Park on Saturday night.
The Barnstormers opened the scoring right from the outset against Joe Van Meter in his first Revs start, on a two run home run from Rico Noel, scoring Blake Gailen who led off the game with a single to right.
The Revs answered quickly. Travis Witherpoon led off the bottom half of the frame with a roller up the third base line that hung on the edge of the grass for a fair ball. Then with two outs, Burgess laced an opposite field line drive over the wall in left-center to tie the score at 2-2.
The Revs then took a 3-2 lead as Cruz led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run over the playground in left center, off of Barnstormer starter Jarret Leverett.
The home run barrage continued in the third with Gailen launching one deep to right, knotting the score at 3-3.
The Barnstormers threatened in the top of the sixth, setting the table with runners at second and third and no outs, but Waldis Joaquin (1-0) got out of the jam retiring the next three, in part due to two sparkling plays from shortstop Ryan Dent with the glove.
The Revs carried the momentum into the bottom half of the frame as Triunfel blasted a no-doubt home run over the Arch Nemesis in left for his third of the year, as the Revs reclaimed the lead, 4-3 and ended the night of Leverett (4-3).
The Revs added some fireworks in the late innings as Alonzo Harris led off the seventh with a walk, and came around to score on a Burgess double off the wall in right-center to push the lead to 5-3. Dayron Varona walked following Burgess’ knock, setting up Cruz for his second blast of the game, a two-run line drive home run over the Nemesis as the Revs took a commanding 8-3 lead.
The Revs added one more in the bottom of the eighth as Witherspoon singled up the middle with one out and came around to score on an Isaias Tejeda bouncer through the right side, extending the cushion to 9-3.
The teams are back in action on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. beginning with the resumption of Friday’s suspended contest in which the Barnstormers lead 5-1 in the top of the fifth. York and Lancaster will then play a seven-inning contest for the finale, with York’s Curtis Partch (3-4, 6.09) facing off with Brad Bergesen (3-5, 4.75). It is Community Courier Day presented by Engle Printing & Publishing and $1 Dog Day courtesy of Hatfield Quality Meats. Preceding the contest is player autographs and catch on the field, followed by post-game kids run the bases. The day also features a Crab Feast catered by Captain Bob's Crabs in the Home Run Patio, a two-hour all-you-can-eat buffet from 12:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office.
Darrell Henry and Matt Present will be on the air at 12:40 p.m. on 1350 WOYK as well as online at woyl1350.com, YorkRevsTV.com, and on the WOYK App.
NOTES:
Four home runs in a game marks a season-high for the Revs. Cruz joins Harris as the only Revs to hit two home runs in a game on the season. Joaquin’s first win as a Rev comes in just his second appearance with the team. York improves to 5-3 in the season’s War of the Roses series. Of York’s 14 hits, eight went for extra bases; Burgess led the way going 3-for-3 with a homer and two doubles, while also walking twice.