(July 29, 2018) – The York Revolution suffered a 5-3 defeat to the Sugar Land Skeeters on Sunday evening in front of 4,869 fans at Constellation Field. The Revs have dropped back-to-back games, slipping to 3.5 games behind the Skeeters in the Freedom Division's second half standings. The seven-game series continues on Monday night.
York failed to score despite six hits over the first four innings. Three of those hits came in the second, but York was denied as Ryan Dent was thrown out attempting to score by right fielder Denis Phipps on Travis Witherspoon's single to right.
Jared Mitchell drilled a ground rule double to dead center with one out in the third but was stranded at third, and two of the first four innings ended on double play ground balls for the York offense.
The Revs finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Luis Cruz singled up the middle with one out, extending his hitting streak to seven consecutive games. Mitchell launched a towering RBI double down the right field line, scoring Cruz from first to give York a 1-0 lead.
Revs starter Mitch Atkins limited the Skeeters to two hits over the first four innings, but Sugar Land tied the game in its half of the fifth on a sac fly by Barrett Barnes.
The Skeeters erupted for a four-run seventh to take control of the game late. Albert Cordero started the rally with a first pitch single to left, greeting reliever Jailen Peguero. Derek Norris worked a walk, and Phipps took advantage with a high chop RBI single to left, breaking the 1-1 tie. Alvaro Rondon failed to set down a pair of bunt attempts, but came back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk. That set up a bases loaded hit by pitch of Barnes to force in a run. Another run scored as a wild pitch was uncorked on a strike out of Juan Silverio for the first out. Anthony Giansanti took a four-pitch walk to force Peguero's exit, and Courtney Hawkins capped the rally with a sac fly off reliever James Pugliese.
Down 5-1, the Revs clawed back in the eighth. Mitchell ripped a leadoff triple down the right field line, going 3-for-4 on the night with two doubles and a triple. Mitchell scored as Alexi Casilla chopped an RBI infield single past pitcher Austin Adams. Casilla moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a one-out single to right center by Melky Mesa, bringing the Revs within 5-3. Right hander Jean Machi entered to retire the final two batters of the inning, however, and Felipe Paulino struck out the side in the ninth for the second consecutive night, notching his league-best 22nd save.
Kraig Sitton (2-0) tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Sugar Land to earn the win, while Peguero (2-4) suffered the loss. Atkins logged his team-best eighth quality start, limiting the Skeeters to one run on three hits in six innings in a no-decision.
York righty Michael Click faces Sugar Land right-hander Konner Wade as the series continues on Monday at 8:05 p.m. ET. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, The New WOYK app, and WOYK 1350 on YouTube beginning at 7:45 p.m. ET with Darrell Henry on the call.
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