(April 27, 2022 – Lexington, Ky.): The York Revolution stormed back to force extras with a three-run ninth, but dropped a 13-12 heartbreaker in 10 innings to the Lexington Legends on Wednesday afternoon in front of 5,867 fans at Wild Health Field. Carlos Franco homered and drove in five in the loss, while Courtney Hawkins homered twice including a walk-off two-run shot for the Legends and drove in seven runs in the slugfest.
York jumped to a big lead, scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the first inning, their biggest outburst of the season to date. Yefri Perez and Troy Stokes Jr. got things started with singles, and Melky Mesa drilled a two-run double to right-center to open the scoring on the first pitch he faced this season. Franco later doubled to the same area producing another run, and Elmer Reyes looped a run-scoring knock into center for the 4-0 start.
The Revs added another run on an error in the third to go up 5-0 before Legends starter J.J. Hoover settled down to retire his final seven batters, lasting five innings.
Lexington began to chip away with an unearned run in the bottom of the third on a sac fly by Jose Briceno, but Revs starter Nick Travieso was strong, carrying a 5-1 lead into the fifth.
Things began to turn when Cesar Cuevas busted up a potential double play turn on a slide at second, resulting in an error and an ensuing one-out rally that saw Lexington score three times with RBI singles by Tillman Pugh and Briceno sandwiching a Hawkins RBI double as the Legends pulled within 5-4.
York got a big run back in the top of the sixth as Lenin Rodriguez drove a two-out RBI double to the gap in right-center, increasing the margin to 6-4.
That lead evaporated in the bottom of the sixth as Hawkins launched a two-out, three-run homer to left-center to put the Legends ahead 7-6.
York again rallied in the seventh as the seesaw battle was on. The Revs set the table with singles from Stokes Jr. and Mesa before a walk to Nellie Rodriguez loaded the bases. Franco drew a bases loaded walk to tie it and Reyes legged out an attempted double play allowing the go-ahead run to score at 8-7.
The Legends landed a big blow in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four times for a commanding 11-8 lead. Dominic Bethancourt crossed with the tying run on a throwing error, while the rally also included a Philip Ervin RBI single, a bases loaded walk to Pugh, and a Hawkins sac fly to left.
The Revs managed one last gasp in the ninth. After Mesa forced closer Austin Adams to throw 10 pitches before recording the first out, York’s offense awoke with a huge rally. Nellie Rodriguez sparked things with a line drive single to left and Franco tagged an opposite field two-run homer to left, his second long ball in as many games. Jack Kenley ripped a base hit to right and Reyes lashed a double down the left field line. With two outs, pinch-hitter Carlos Castro roped a game-tying single to left, as the Revs suddenly pulled even, 11-11.
York could only manage one run in the top of the 10th as Franco beat an attempted double play turn for a 12-11 lead.
Hawkins put a quick end to the day in the bottom half, connecting on closer Jim Fuller’s second pitch for an opposite field walk-off two-run homer to right.
The 12 runs and 16 hits marked season-highs for the Revs. Franco’s five RBI tied his Revs career-best, while Mesa’s two-run double in the first gave him 240 RBI in his Revs career, second-most all-time.
York righty Alex Sanabia faces Lexington’s Daniel Corcino in Thursday’s series finale at 6:35 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 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.
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