(Sept. 3, 2021 – York, Pa.): Austin Nicely tossed another gem and the York Revolution won their third straight with a 12-1 blowout victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday evening at PeoplesBank Park. The Revs have won eight of their last 11 overall and pull within two games of first place in the Atlantic League North, set to host the Crabs for three more on Labor Day weekend as the series continues Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Nicely (6-8) tossed 7.2 innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits as the lefty worked a season-high 127 pitches in the masterpiece.
The Crabs broke a scoreless draw on a two-out RBI single to right by Zach Collier in the top of the fourth, but Nicely left the bases loaded and cruised from there.
Held to just two hits by Crabs starter Carl Brice (3-3) over the first four innings, the Revs erupted for six runs in the fifth. Josue Herrera ignited things with a double deep off the center field fence to lead it off. After a walk to Osmy Gregorio, Lenin Rodriguez reached on a bunt fielder’s choice that loaded the bases with no outs. Darian Sandford tied the game on an RBI single to right, and James Harris provided the lead with a sac fly to center. Jack Kenley followed by drilling an RBI double to right, and after an intentional walk to Melky Mesa, Carlos Franco smashed a two-run single through the right side of the infield, ending Brice’s night. Welington Dotel greeted reliever Patrick Baker with an RBI single up the middle, capping the outburst as the Revs built a 6-1 lead.
York scored three more in the sixth to turn it into a rout, as Kenley picked up his second RBI of the night on a fielder’s choice with a safe call at second on an attempted double play turn that led to the ejection of Blue Crabs manager Stan Cliburn. Mesa delivered the big blow on a two-run double off the center field fence to make it 9-1.
Sandford added an RBI single to left-center in the seventh, and Franco launched a two-run homer to right-center in the eighth to close the scoring. Blue Crabs pitching coach Daryl Thompson was ejected following the Franco home run, arguing that the ball had stayed in play.
The Revs out-hit the Blue Crabs 14-5 for the game. Franco led the offense with four RBI on the night.
Notes: Nicely has worked at least seven innings in three consecutive starts, allowing only one earned run in each of those three; he has allowed just 12 hits and three earned runs in 22.2 innings combined on that stretch. He has also worked at least seven innings in five of his last seven starts and in seven total starts on the season. He has allowed just two earned runs and 11 hits in 21.2 innings over three starts against Southern Maryland this season. Sandford is now batting .528 (19-for-36) on a 12-game hitting streak, the Revs’ third-longest of the season and the longest by any player other than Nellie Rodriguez who owns a 15-gamer and a 14-game streak. Franco now has 25 RBI in 17 games with York this season, and seven RBI in three starts since re-signing earlier this week. York righty Eduardo Rivera (4-2, 3.95) faces Southern Maryland right-hander Josh Roeder (0-0, 0.00) in Saturday’s contest at 6:30 p.m. It is Ag & Farm Night at PeoplesBank Park, also welcoming Lutherans Fight Hunger. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
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