(August 19, 2018) – The York Revolution held a 3-0 lead three batters into the game but were silenced the rest of the way, dropping the final game of their weekend visit to the Somerset Patriots, 7-3 in front of 5,565 fans at TD Bank Ballpark. The Revs saw a two-game winning streak halted and return home to open a seven-game homestand with the first of four against the Lancaster Barnstormers on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
The Revs got off to a great start as Alonzo Harris smashed a leadoff double off the left-center wall and promptly scored as Alexi Casilla roped an RBI single to right-center. Melky Mesa followed by blasting a two-run homer down the left field line, his 15th of the season, as the Revs led 3-0, three batters into the game.
Revs starter Mitch Atkins cruised deep into his outing, carrying the 3-0 lead with two outs in the sixth. Atkins retired his first nine batters faced and 15 of his first 16, breezing through the early innings.
Things took a turn with two outs in the sixth as Jayce Boyd lined an RBI single to left-center on an 0-2 pitch to get the Patriots on the board, and Nate Coronado connected on a three-run home run to left field as Somerset grabbed a sudden 4-3 lead. It was Coronado's fourth homer in three games including three in two games against York during the weekend series.
Offensively, the Revs went silent after the early outburst. Patriots starter Stephen Perakslis retired all of the remaining 15 batters he faced, eight on strike outs, to give his team five innings of work.
The Patriots combined to retire 22 of 23 Revolution batters until a threat developed in the eighth. Welington Dotel started things with a pinch-hit infield single with one out in the inning and Harris took a four-pitch walk. Casilla grounded out, advancing both runners and Mesa was intentionally walked. Somerset reliever Logan Kensing won the battle with Telvin Nash, however, recording an inning-ending strike out to leave the bases loaded.
Somerset put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth as the Patriots did all of their damage on the day with two outs. Ramon Flores ripped an RBI single to right-center off reliever Estarlin Arias, and another run came home when Harris' throw from center skipped away at third base. Mike Fransoso added an RBI single to right to close out the scoring.
Atkins (10-5) suffered just his second loss in his last 12 decisions, charged with four runs in six innings pitched.
Patriots reliever Dustin Molleken (3-2) was credited the victory with two scoreless innings.
Notes: The Revs struck out 14 times offensively, their first double-digit strike out game since August 1; York had gone a season-high 15 consecutive games without double digit strike outs. Mesa has 19 RBI in his last 14 games and has 10 extra-base hits in his last 13 games, including four home runs on that stretch; that does not include a home run in Friday's suspended game. Mesa is batting .348 (16-for-46) over those 13 contests. Atkins allowed more than three runs for just the second time in his last 13 starts; he failed to register a win for just the third time in his last 13 starts. York lefty Robert Carson faces Lancaster left hander Nate Reed in Monday's opener at PeoplesBank Park. It is Hunger Free Monday presented by United Fiber & Data to benefit the York County Food Bank, and Trivia Night hosted by Showtime Trivia. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Revs Ticket Office.
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