(August 4th, 2023 – York, Pa.): The York Revolution offense was powered by a pair of milestone home runs but the bullpen faltered in a 5-4 loss to the Spire City Ghost Hounds on Friday evening at WellSpan Park.
The Revs returned home to open a six-game homestand following a 10-day road stretch. Pedro Vasquez got the ball in game one of the three game set with Spire City, opposed by righty Matt Reitz who had shut down the Revs potent offense nearly a month earlier in a start for Charleston.
The Revs struck first in the bottom of the second. After singles by Drew Mendoza and Trey Martin who clocked one high off the Arch Nemesis in left to put runners at the corners, Richard Urena drove in Mendoza with a sac fly to left as the Revs led it 1-0.
York expanded its lead in the third when Troy Stokes Jr. launched a tape measure two-run home run to left center, the 100th of his pro career, increasing the lead to 3-0.
Vasquez was terrific, keeping the Ghost Hounds scoreless into the sixth inning. With his pitch count at 108, Vasquez was lifted with two aboard after striking out Kole Cottam for the first out of the inning. Nelvin Correa entered to record the final two outs of the sixth on a ground out and a fly out, preserving the 3-0 advantage.
Correa struggled in the top of the seventh, however, giving up the lead on four straight hits and a sac fly. Craig Dedelow doubled in two off the Nemesis with the bases loaded, followed by a game tying sac fly by Jose Marmolejos. Lefty Zach Neff came in with a runner on third and only one out. After inducing a ground ball to short that went for an infield hit but failed to produce a run with the infield playing in, Neff got Cottam to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, keeping the game tied at 3-3.
Meanwhile, the Revs offense was unable to manage anything against Reitz after the third as the righty went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
Trouble mounted in the top of the eighth as Luke Becker singled and Scott Kelly reached on an error by Neff attempting to field a sacrifice bunt. Both advanced on a wild pitch, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Neff got two ground balls, both played by Trent Giambrone at short, temporarily keeping the game tied with the infield in, but with two outs, Leobaldo Cabrera blooped a single to shallow right center, bringing home both runs to give Spire City a 5-3 lead.
Dovydas Neverauskas got the save despite allowing a solo home run to left by Nellie Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth. It was the 67th home run of his Revs career, moving past Andres Perez for third-most in Revs history.
The Revs have lost back-to-back games for the first time since July 1-2, having gone 20-7 prior to the last two defeats. Despite the loss, York maintains a half game lead for first place in the second half at 15-8 (52-34 overall).
York righty Andrew Cabezas (1-0, 2.79) faces Spire City right-hander David Kubiak (7-4, 5.00) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. It is Bike Night presented by Eisenhauer’s York Harley-Davidson, Inside-the-Park Fireworks presented by AAA Mid-States, Penn State Tailgate, and WellSpan Wellness Weekend: Back to School/Pediatrics. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
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