The York Revolution (3-4) returned to York after a six-game road trip to begin the season, and wasted no time putting on a show for the hometown fans, scoring five in the first inning, and defeating the first place Somerset Patriots, 5-4 in front of 5,367 fans at PeoplesBank Park on Friday evening.
It was the Patriots who got on the board first, stringing together three singles in the first inning against Steve Janas, with Bryan LaHair picking up the RBI.
The Revs then batted around in the home half of the inning. Alonzo Harris, who now has hits in six of his seven games as a Rev, led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout. Joel Guzman and Michael Burgess battled out walks to load the bases, and with two outs, Angel Franco came through with a two RBI single up the middle. Bryan Pounds followed it up with another RBI single to left, and then Jared Mitchell blasted a triple to the gap in left center to plate two more. Mitchell’s hit was his third on the season, all for extra bases.
“It was fun, we had great attendance, and a great atmosphere here,” said Mitchell after the game. “I think guys were able to get going, guys were able to get in sync, and get a little rhythm going.”
Janas (1-1) gave up a run in the second, allowing a leadoff walk to come home on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Chris Grayson, but then settled down, eventually working five innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four to earn his first victory of the season.
Patriots starter Mitch Atkins (1-1) also settled in following the first, allowing just three baserunners the remainder of his outing. He worked into the sixth, allowing five runs on seven hits, absorbing his first loss of the season.
The Patriots made it close late with two unearned runs in the seventh, tagging Julio DePaula for two infield singles, and a grounder to third that Pounds was unable to handle. One run came across on an errant relay on an attempted double play ball, and the second scored on a sac fly by LaHair, but Luke Westphal whiffed Jerry Sands to end the inning with the tying run at third.
Westphal also worked a 1-2-3 eighth before giving way to Brad Allen who picked up his first career save in the Revs’ first save opportunity of the season, working the ninth. He allowed the tying run to reach base on a two out single up the middle by Alfredo Rodriguez, but then Isaias Tejeda threw out Rodriguez trying to steal second to seal the win. It was the Revs’ best bullpen night of the season as they teamed up to toss four innings without allowing an earned run, striking out four, and not walking a batter.
The Revs are back in action on Saturday night for game two of the three-game set at 6:30 p.m. with LHP Logan Williamson (0-0, 3.00) facing LHP Aaron Laffey (1-0, 0.00). Revs fans can catch the action live with Darrell Henry and Matt Present on SportsRadio 1350 WOYK, woyk1350.com, the WOYK app, and YorkRevsTV.com beginning at 6:10 p.m. It is Go Green Night presented by York County Solid Waste Authority, including a purple eco-friendly Tote Bag Giveaway to the first 2,000 fans. It is also Martial Arts Night, and the evening concludes with Postgame Inside-the-Park Fireworks. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office.
Notes:
W – Steve Janas (1-1)
L – Mitch Atkins (1-1)
S – Brad Allen (1)
*Five runs are the most first-inning runs scored in a home opener in team history
*Alonzo Harris picked up another hit, and has now hit safely in 6 of 7 games this season
*Angel Franco went 2-for-2, notching his second multi-hit game of the year
*The back-to-back victories are the first for the Revs on the young season