(July 8, 2018) – The York Revolution saw a ninth inning lead slip away, dropping their series finale, 4-3 in 11 innings to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Sunday afternoon in front of 3,999 fans at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Revs' three-game winning streak is snapped, as the team heads into the Atlantic League All-Star break with a 2-1 record in the second half.
Melky Mesa supplied all of the scoring for the Revs in Sunday's game on a pair of home runs, as York built a 3-0 lead in the sixth.
With the game scoreless in the fourth, Alexi Casilla led off the inning with a single up the middle, setting up Mesa who nailed a two-run homer to left for a 2-0 advantage.
Mesa crushed a solo shot in the top of the sixth to make it 3-0, marking his second two-homer game of the season, doing so on consecutive Sundays.
Revs starter Dominic Severino was outstanding, carrying a shutout into the bottom of the sixth. The righty worked a season-high seven innings, allowing just an unearned run while walking none and striking out five in a no-decision.
The Blue Crabs got on the board in the sixth as Edwin Garcia reached on an error, moved to third on a single by Frank Martinez, and scored on a double play to make it 3-1.
The Crabs threatened to erase the Revs' lead in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs. Ryan Strausborger drew a leadoff walk and Garcia followed with a base hit up the middle. Martinez bunted into a fielder's choice, but pitcher Joe Van Meter's throw to third pulled Jose Cuevas off the bag. Junior Rincon entered and the Revs caught a huge break as Devon Rodriguez' line drive was hit right at first baseman Zach Wilson for a double play. A walk to Angelys Nina loaded the bases, but Rincon escaped by retiring Angelo Songco on a bloop to shallow left with shortstop Ryan Dent ranging back to haul in the clutch putout.
Austin Green led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer down the left field line off closer Grant Sides, cutting the lead to 3-2. Sides retired the next two batters, but a hit by pitch to Strausborger and a walk to Garcia kept the game alive. A pair of wild pitches brought Strausborger home with the tying run. Martinez made a bid at winning the game with a line drive to left but it was right at Mesa for the third out, sending the game to extra innings. It was the first blown save charged to Sides all season, as he had allowed only one run on the year entering Sunday's appearance.
Ricardo Gomez worked a 1-2-3 tenth inning, but the Crabs went back to work in the 11th when Green drew a leadoff walk from lefty Luke Westphal (1-2). Craig Maddox dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and the Revs intentionally walked Francisco Rosario to set up a force. Righty Zac Treece entered to strike out Strausborger, but issued a wild pitch and hit Garcia with a pitch to load the bases. Martinez lofted a bloop base hit to shallow center, completing the Blue Crabs' comeback.
Southern Maryland's bullpen limited the Revs to three hits over five scoreless innings. Craig Stem (4-3) picked up the win with a scoreless 11th.
Notes: Mesa has hit nine home runs on the season including seven with 20 RBI in his last 15 games. The Revs fall to 0-5 in extra innings, 0-2 at Regency Furniture Stadium. Two of York's extra-inning games came in scheduled seven-inning doubleheader contests, as Sunday marked the third time the Revs have played more than nine innings and first since May 23. The Revs host the Long Island Ducks on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at PeoplesBank Park. It is Stranger Things Night as the Revs will wear Stranger Things Demodog themed jerseys with a Jersey Auction presented by PeoplesBank to benefit the SPCA of York County. The night includes Post-Game Fireworks. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Revs Ticket Office.
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