(June 5, 2021 – Lancaster, PA): Rashad Crawford cracked a pair of home runs but the York Revolution dropped a back-and-forth battle to the Lancaster Barnstormers, 11-10 in 10 innings on Saturday night in front of 4,551 fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium. York is denied in its bid for a three-game winning streak and will go for a series victory on Sunday afternoon.
York again struck first with multiple runs in the first inning. Darian Sandford was hit by a pitch in the first plate appearance of the evening. Edwin Figuera then reached safely for the eighth straight time in the series with a double to right. Melky Mesa hit a fly ball deep enough to right to score Sandford from third on a sac fly. Then with two outs, Carlos Franco singled to center, scoring Figuera for a 2-0 lead. Crawford capped off the inning with a two-run home run to right for a 4-0 lead after a half inning of play.
Lancaster responded with a run in each of their first two innings at the plate. Alejandro de Aza led off with a base hit to left in his Barnstormers debut. Blake Gailen batted in his fellow outfielder with his own single to left field. In the second, LeDarious Clark reached second on a base hit and a Revs error. A couple of batters later, Anderson De La Rosa grounded out to second and Clark scored to make it 4-2 York.
The Revs extended their lead back to four in the fourth. Franco greeted Barnstormers starter Daniel Taggart with a solo home run to right center field. Crawford and Welington Dotel followed with back-to-back base hits. Carlos Castro earned his 11th RBI of the season, scoring Crawford from second on a knock to left field for a 6-2 lead.
Clark would answer Franco’s solo home run with one of his own to right field for Lancaster’s only run in their half of the fourth.
In the fifth, the Barnstormers took the lead for the first time in the series with a four-run rally. Kelly Dugan cleared the bases with a two-run double to left after back-to-back hits from de Aza and Melvin Mercedes. A batter later, Clark smacked his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to right-center to make it 7-6 Lancaster.
Crawford went yard for the second time, a solo shot to right field in the sixth to tie the game at 7 runs apiece.
York took the lead back, 8-7 in the seventh thanks to Dotel. After Nellie Rodriguez earned his third double of the season on a line drive to left-center, Lancaster intentionally walked Crawford and Dotel made them pay with a ground ball single to right to put the Revs back on top.
Lancaster tied it up again in the ninth. Cleuluis Rondon reached on an error by Sandford who came in to play second base for the first time this season in the middle of the game. Sandford made a sliding effort to snag the humpback liner leading off the inning, but Rondon reaching set up Mercedes who drove in the tying run with his fifteenth hit of the year—a single to center with two outs, forcing extras.
In extra innings for the first time in 2021, York took advantage of reliever Yoel Espinal’s command struggles as three batters reached safely on two walks and a hit by pitch. Dotel (double) and Figuera each drove in runs on base hits to take back the lead at 10-8.
Lancaster took advantage of three walks in its half of the 10th, however, and after a wild pitch from Bubby Rossman (0-2) plated the first run, won the game on a two-out, two-run infield single on the right side by pinch-hitter Anthony Peroni with the Revs one strike shy of a third consecutive victory.
Revs starter Austin Nicely did not factor into the decision despite 5 1/3 innings on the mound. The lefty allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits, no walks, and a strikeout.
Taggart started the game for the Barnstormers and was chased in the fifth after allowing six earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and two strike outs in 4 2/3 innings.
Up Next: RHP Austin Steinfort (0-1) will make his second start for York opposite Lancaster LHP Tommy Shirley (1-0, 1.08) in Sunday’s series finale at 1:00 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and the WOYK YouTube channel beginning at 12:40 p.m. with Darrell Henry and Ray Jensen on the call.
CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
CLICK HERE FOR WOYK AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
CLICK HERE FOR WOYK YOUTUBE BROADCAST
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS TO UPCOMING HOMESTAND BEGINNING JUNE 11