(July 23, 2019 – York, Pa.):  The York Revolution dropped the opening game of a six-game homestand, 4-3 to the Sugar Land Skeeters on Tuesday night at PeoplesBank Park.  It is just the second opening game loss in the last 12 series for the Revs, who will look to sweep a doubleheader on Wednesday at 11 a.m. to extend their series winning streak to 12 in-a-row.

 

Fresh off of a 6-1 road trip, the Revs opened the three-game series against the first-half champion Skeeters with their ace Mitch Atkins on the mound. Atkins was dominant early, as he retired the first nine Skeeters he faced in order.

 

Sugar Land left-hander Matt Purke was also impressive through three. The former New York Met allowed just three hits while walking one through his trio of scoreless frames.

 

The Skeeters scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Rico Noel led off the inning with a single and promptly stole both second and third base. After Atkins retired Jason Martinson on a strike out, Denis Phipps tapped an RBI infield single to deep short to give Sugar Land a 1-0 lead.

 

The lead would not last long, as the Revs got on the board in their half of the fourth. Isaias Tejeda led off the inning by crushing his 11th home run of the season, all in the last 15 games, deep over the Arch Nemesis in left to tie the game at 1-1. Carlos Franco followed the big fly by drawing a walk. Purke battled back to get Welington Dotel to ground into a fielder’s choice, retiring Franco at second. After Angelys Nina lined out, Ryan Dent singled to keep the inning alive. Justin Trapp walked to load the bases and James Skelton drew his second walk of the game, forcing in Dotel and giving York the 2-1 lead.

 

The see-saw battle continued into the fifth inning. Juan Silverio led off the frame with a single. After Wynton Bernard walked, Albert Cordero tied the game at 2-2 on an RBI single into left field. Bernard moved from first to third on the play, and with Anthony Giansanti at the plate, scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, moving the score to 3-2.  Dent saved further trouble making an outstanding diving catch on a line drive off the bat of Noel which he turned into a double play at second.

 

York tied things up again in the bottom of the fifth. After former Rev Ricardo Gomez retired Telvin Nash and Tejeda to start the inning, Franco smacked a solo home run to left-center field to tie the game at 3-3.

 

Atkins responded brilliantly from the tough fifth inning by worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, ending the frame by striking out Blair Beck. Atkins allowed just a two-out single in a scoreless seventh inning, working at least seven innings for the fourth time this season.

 

Josh Judy was called upon to hold the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning. “The Judge” allowed just a walk in a scoreless inning of work.

 

Sugar Land took a late lead in the top of the ninth, however. After Silverio walked and stole second base, Cordero (3-for-4, two RBI) lined a two-out single to left-center to give the Skeeters a 4-3 lead.

 

York was unable to score against Kevin Comer in the bottom of the ninth, giving York its first series-opening loss in the last seven tries.

 

Recap by Brett Pietrzak

 

Notes: The Revs’ overall winning streak of five consecutive games is snapped.  At 8-3, it is still tied for the greatest start to a half in franchise history (2007 second half, 2011 first half).  The Revs’ lead in the Freedom Division second half shrinks to 1.0 game with Southern Maryland having won on Tuesday night.  Tejeda (2-for-4, HR) has now hit safely in a season-best 13 consecutive games with 10 home runs on the streak; he has now hit all 11 home runs in 15 games since July 3. The Revs have now homered in a team-record 15 consecutive games with 31 home runs on the streak.  The Revs are tied for the league lead with 91 home runs.  York righty Dan Minor (5-4, 4.33) faces Sugar Land right-hander Rogelio Bernal (0-0, 3.00) in Wednesday’s opening game at 11 a.m.  Revs righty Duke von Schamann (4-3, 3.12) faces Skeeters right-hander Chase De Jong in the second game.  Both are seven-inning contests.  It is Camp Day presented by UPMC featuring fun, interactive, educational stations along the concourse.  Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Revs Ticket Office.

 

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