BOX SCORE
The York Revolution received a great spot start from Jake Ezell and Travis Witherspoon tripled the go-ahead run home in the sixth as the Revs won their fifth consecutive game, edging the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, 3-2 on Wednesday night at PeoplesBank Park. With a Lancaster loss, the Revs are now a season-high three games up in the Freedom Division, and their magic number to clinch a second half title and playoff berth is down to two with four games to play.
The Revs opened the scoring in the second inning when Telvin Nash led off the frame with a solo home run to deep left-center off of Southern Maryland starter Drew Hayes. With two outs in the inning, Witherspoon singled to center and made it to third on an errant pickoff throw. Ryan Dent followed with a rocket back up the middle for an RBI single to put the Revs ahead 2-0.
Southern Maryland cut the lead in half in the top of the third on a Luis Alen solo home run to straight away left field off of Ezell. It was the only run Ezell would allow, as despite not throwing more than 2.2 innings in any previous game this season, the right-hander went five strong innings on Wednesday, striking out four and facing just two over the minimum. He capped the effort by retiring each of his final seven batters in the second start of his pro career.
The Blue Crabs tied the game in the sixth inning as Zach Cone led off with a home run over the foul pole in left to knot the score at 2-2. It was just the third run surrendered by reliever Joe Van Meter since July 1st. The right hander bounced back to retire the next three batters to finish the inning.
The Revs got the run right back in the home sixth. Rubi Silva laced a one out triple to right center. Two batter later, Witherspoon came through, drilling another triple to the right center gap that deflected off the glove of Cone on a dead sprint to bring home Silva and put the Revs back on top.
Sothern Maryland threatened in the seventh with back-to-back singles to begin the frame, but Grant Sides responded by rolling a double play ball with Nash making a great stretch, laying out to hold the bag at first on the relay. Sides struck out Tucker Nathans to escape without harm.
Brad Allen tossed a scoreless eighth, stranding the tying run at second as Dent laid out to make a diving grab on an Edwin Garcia liner to end the inning.
Ricardo Gomez struck out the side in the ninth to record his second save of the season.
The Revs and Blue Crabs face off in the finale on Thursday as the Revs go for the sweep. York will send Logan Williamson (5-9, 5.31) to the mound to face off with Eric Fornataro (0-8, 5.57) in a 6:30 p.m. tilt. The Revs have an opportunity to clinch the Freedom Division second half title on Thursday with a win and a loss by Lancaster. It’s the Revs Got Talent Finale, Latin Heritage Night presented by Latino Connection, Unused Ticket Redemption Night, and fans can also receive a complimentary ticket to the game with any purchase at a local Rutters.
Darrell Henry and Matt Present will bring you the action live at 6:10 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 WOYK as well as online at woyk1350.com, the WOYK YouTube Channel, and on the WOYK App.
Notes:
Nash’s home run was his 16th in 44 games played this year, and 44th of his Revs career (162 games) as he is now one shy of tying Scott Grimes for third all-time. The five-game winning streak for York ties a season high which they accomplished on August 1st-5th. The Revs have allowed just five runs over their last four games. Witherspoon’s triple was his sixth of the season, tying him for second in the league. Luis Cruz was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes.