BOX SCORE
(August 19, 2017 – Sugar Land, TX): For the second consecutive night, the York Revolution erased a deficit with two outs in the ninth inning, grabbing a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Sugar Land Skeeters on Saturday night in front of 6,509 fans at Constellation Field. The Revs have won three of their last four, all in the ninth inning, and improve to 24-18 in the second half, staying in a tie for first place. York closes its six-game visit to Texas on Sunday evening before returning home for a week-long homestand.
The Revs struck for an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning. Jared Mitchell led off the frame with a single to left and moved to second on a passed ball. Luis Cruz drilled an RBI triple to deep right-center to plate the game’s first run. An out later, Ryan Dent lined an RBI single to left to plate Cruz and make it 2-0.
York starter Logan Williamson spun a masterpiece, allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings, preserving the 2-0 lead deep into the game. Williamson, following a six-pitch sixth inning, worked around a leadoff double by Wilfredo Rodriguez in the seventh, stranding two by retiring Josh Prince on a pop up to end his seventh inning, matching his longest outing of the year.
Sugar Land starter Mitch Talbot allowed just one hit after the second inning, also going seven strong innings. Talbot allowed two runs on five total hits, walked one, struck out nine, and retired 15 of his final 17 batters.
Sugar Land surged ahead with a four-run eighth inning, as it appeared the teams would trade last at-bat victories for the fourth consecutive night. Anthony Giansanti led off with an infield single, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Kevin Ahrens singled to left and Bryan Pounds walked, loading the bases with no outs.
Albert Cordero lined a sac fly to right to get the Skeeters on the board, and three consecutive RBI singles followed. Rodriguez lined a game-tying single toward the right field line, pinch-hitter Caleb Ramsey singled up the middle on the first pitch to give the Skeeters the lead, and Travis Scott blooped a pinch single to left to give Sugar Land a sudden 4-2 advantage.
The Revs immediately went to work against Skeeters closer Mark Haynes, who was looking to bounce back from a blown save the previous night, in the ninth. Cruz greeted the righty with a single to center, took second on a wild pitch, and scored as Chase Simpson yanked a clutch RBI triple down the right field line. Sugar Land went to its bullpen, calling on right hander Felipe Paulino (4-3) who backed the Revs down to their final out by way of a fly out and a strike out with pinch-runner Dayron Varona still standing at third. For the second straight night, however, the Revs would leap ahead with two outs in the ninth as Alonzo Harris drove a game-tying single to right-center, and Alexi Casilla provided the game winner, cracking an RBI double to deep right.
Brad Allen put the victory in the books with a scoreless ninth, allowing only a one-out walk to Ahrens for his 19th save, fourth-most in the league.
York reliever Ricardo Gomez (3-3) was credited with the win despite allowing a season-high-tying four runs. He had allowed only four earned runs combined over his previous 26 outings, including no earned runs in his previous 12 appearances.
Notes: Each of the last four games have been decided with the winning team scoring in the ninth inning. The win is York’s 10th last at-bat victory and third in the last four nights. The Revs improve to 3-48 when trailing after eight innings, with two of those wins coming in the last two nights. Sugar Land falls to 39-3 when leading after eight innings, with two of those losses coming in as many games. The Revs remain tied for first place with Lancaster while pushing Sugar Land to four games back in the division. York improves to 12-7 against Sugar Land on the season, adding to their club record for wins in the head-to-head series. Allen moves ahead of Michael Nix (18 in 2011) for the fourth-highest single season saves total in Revs history. York righty Jay Gause (8-2, 3.05) faces Sugar Land right hander Jake Hale (8-5, 3.27) in Sunday’s series finale at 7:05 p.m. ET. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 1350, woyk1350.com, and on the WOYK app beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET with Darrell Henry on the call.