(April 22, 2017, New Britain, Ct.) – On Opening Night, York Revolution starter Frank Gailey gave the team a solid start and the bullpen was able to hold on for victory. Tonight it was a fabulous effort by the bullpen to keep the Revs in it, allowing the offense to chip away, but ultimately York (1-1) fell just short, losing 3-2 to the New Britain Bees, and setting up a rubber game in the season-opening series on Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium.
The Bees struck first in the third inning when Craig Maddox doubled to left and Jose Constanza overran the ball allowing Steve Carrillo to come all the way around from first to score. Carrillo had reached on a fielder’s choice on a heads up play by shortstop Angel Franco to throw out James Skelton, who led off the inning with a single, attempting to go from second to third.
The Bees tacked on two more in the fourth on a two run home run to right off the bat of Skelton, bringing home Michael Crouse who was hit by a pitch by starter Steve Janas. It was the Bees’ third home run in two games to begin the season.
Janas had escaped previous trouble, leaving two runners in scoring position in both the first and third innings. The righty exited following the fourth, and the Revs bullpen kept them in it. The combination of Michael Click, Joe Van Meter, Hawtin Buchanan, and Julio DePaula were masterful, combining for four hitless innings, allowing just two baserunners, and striking out five.
York began chipping away in the sixth, when Alonzo Harris tripled to right-center with one out, past the diving attempt by center fielder Michael Crouse. Logging the first triple of the season for the Revs, Harris was brought home on an RBI groundout by Joel Guzman, chopping a two strike offering to shortstop to get the Revs on the board.
The Revs added a run in the seventh, playing some more small ball. Michael Burgess led off the inning with a double to right field. Burgess was then bunted over to third by Jared Mitchell, and brought home on a Bryan Pounds groundout. Pounds stayed in the game to pick up the RBI after fouling a pitch off his leg, but was replaced by Ryan Dent in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Revs had a chance to take the lead in the eighth, loading the bases with one away on a Constanza walk, a Harris single, and a Guzman infield hit, but Isaias Tejeda bounced into an inning ending double play allowing Major League veteran reliever Brandon League to escape in his Atlantic League debut.
With the Revs down to their final strike in the ninth, Ryan Dent doubled to deep right in his first at bat of the season, keeping the game alive. Brandon Thomas then pinch ran for Dent and advanced to third on a wild pitch, putting the Revs’ tying run just ninety feet away for the second straight inning. The Bees would escape again, however, as Joe Beimel induced an Angel Franco pop out to end it, as the big league veteran earned the save in his debut.
Revs Roundup:
W – Kyle Simon (1-0)
L – Steve Janas (0-1)
S – Joe Beimel (1)
Middle Magic: Alonzo Harris went 3-for-4 in Saturday’s game while Angel Franco was 1-for-4. The middle infield combo has combined to go 9-for-17 to begin the season, also tallying 9 of the team’s 17 total hits through the first two games
Tomorrow: LHP Logan Williamson (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Brian Dupra (0-0, 0.00) at 1:35 p.m.
On-Air: Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK mobile app beginning at 1:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.