Gastonia 2, York 1
(May 10, 2024 – York, Pa.): The York Revolution and Gastonia Baseball Club squared off in a pitcher’s duel on a cold, damp night at WellSpan Park as Gastonia eeked out the 2-1 win in Friday’s series opener.
Both teams missed opportunities for early runs as York and Gastonia stranded runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings.
The Revs broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when David Washington doubled home Kobe Kato for his first hit at WellSpan Park in his home debut. Washington has now hit safely in every game he has played with York with RBIs in five of six games.
That lead held until the top of the fifth inning. After Aaron Fletcher retired the first two of the inning, the York lefty allowed a broken bat infield single to nine-hitter Dean Miller. After Miller moved up on a wild pitch, Gastonia extended the inning when Jack Reinheimer reached on a throwing error. Josh Stowers tied the game with a bloop single into center field and Justin Wylie gave Gastonia the lead with a bases loaded walk.
Jon Olsen relieved Fletcher (1-1) and was nearly untouchable, continuing his great start to the year. He pitched scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings, including striking out the side in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Gastonia’s Stefon Moore and Trent Fennell each pitched scoreless innings of their own in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Their outings came after starter Zac Lowther (1-0) struck out seven batters over six innings and retired the last nine York hitters he faced.
Olsen issued his first two walks of the season with two outs in the eighth before he was relieved by Matt Turner. Turner was able to strand the runners by inducing a flyout as Olsen has yet to give up an earned run this season.
York went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position over the first four innings and did not have another hit until the ninth when Rudy Martin Jr. kept the game alive with a two-out double to right center, but Gastonia closer Bryan Blanton finished off the contest with a strikeout for his first save.
Chris Vallimont goes to the mound for York on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. against Gastonia’s Ryan Conroy as the Revs look to even the series. It is WellSpan Wellness Weekend (Mental Health) and the night features Post-Game Fireworks presented by D.F. Stauffers Biscuits. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
Notes: Olsen’s 8 strikeouts are a new single game record for a Revolution relief pitcher; three pitchers have struck out seven, most recently Andrew Cabezas on 7/7/23 vs Lexington. Olsen extended his season-opening scoreless streak to 13.2 innings, setting a new franchise record for scoreless streak to begin a Revs career; it surpasses the previous mark of 12.2 innings set by Scott Rice in 2011. Olsen struck out 21 batters to begin the season before issuing his first walk. York pitchers struck out all but one Gastonia starter in the game, totaling 15 strikeouts, one shy of matching a club record for a nine-inning game and their most in a game as a staff since striking out 15 Charleston Dirty Birds on 7/28/22. Fletcher struck out four hitters in a row between the second and third innings, becoming the third Revolution pitcher to strike out four hitters in a row this season (Will Stewart on 4/25 vs Hagerstown and Jon Olsen on 4/29 at Gastonia). Fletcher’s seven strikeouts are a new career high and he held the opposition without an earned run for the second time in three starts. Gastonia pitching retired 17 of 18 York batters until Martin Jr.’s double in the ninth.
Staten Island 4, Lancaster 1
The Staten Island FerryHawks defeated the Lancaster Stormers by a score of 4-1 on Friday evening at SIUH Community Park to open a three-game set against the reigning champs.
The FerryHawks got on the board early thanks to the red-hot, Pablo Sandoval! The Panda roped a single that brought in Xavier Vargas to make it 1-0 Hawks – his 15th RBI of the season.
In the 2nd, the FerryHawks tacked on two more runs thanks to Kolby Johnson and Nate Scantlin to make it 3-1 in there favor. The youngster, Kolby Johnson continued his strong sophomore campaign with the FerryHawks with a 3-4 night that raised by average to an incredible mark of .400 through the first 14 games.
One more run in the late stages sealed the deal as the FerryHawks took this one 4-1 to move to 8-6 on the season. The Hawks have now taken four of their last five and sit only a half game out of first place in the North Division!
FerryHawks starter, Aaron Leasher exited with a final line of 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. He was relieved by Brian McKenna, Joe Jones, and Robbie Baker who completely shut down the opposition by combining for 3 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, and 4 strikeouts.
The two teams square off again tomorrow at 1:00PM as SIUH Community Park as the FerryHawks look to take that top spot in the division and continue their hot streak!
Long Island 7, Hagerstown 6
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 10, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars 7-6 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
The Flying Boxcars took a two-run lead in the first inning on a leadoff solo home run to right field by Magneuris Sierra off Ducks starter Daniel Corcino and an RBI single to center by Osvaldo Abreu. The Ducks responded with four runs in the bottom of the first against Flying Boxcars starter Joe Palumbo on Jackie Bradley Jr’s solo home to right and bases loaded walks by Aaron Antonini, Manuel Geraldo and Scott Kelly.
An RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Geraldo in the third extended Long Island’s advantage to 5-2. Hagerstown closed to within a run in the fourth on Mike Gulino’s RBI fielder’s choice and Sierra’s RBI single to center. An RBI single to right by Welington Dotel in the fifth tied the game at five, but an RBI single through the left side by Kelly in the bottom of the frame put the Ducks back in front by a run.
Antonini pushed the lead to 7-5 in the sixth with a sac fly to center. Hagerstown pulled back to within a run in the eighth on Sierra’s RBI single to left. The visitors then put the tying run on second with nobody out in the ninth inning, but they could not pull even.
Corcino (1-0) picked up the win, tossing five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out three. Rafael Kelley (0-1) took the loss, giving up an unearned run on two hits and a walk in one and one-third innings. Tyler Zuber earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.
Antonini led the Ducks offense with two hits, two RBIs and a run. Bradley Jr. chipped in with two hits, an RBI and a run, while Rixon Wingrove added two hits and two runs.
The Ducks and Flying Boxcars continue their three-game set on Saturday night. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). Following the game, all fans in attendance will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular. It’s also a Long Island MacArthur Airport Lucky Seat Saturday! During the game, one lucky fan will win two round trip tickets on Breeze Airways to any of their six non-stop destinations from MacArthur Airport. Right-hander Charlie Neuweiler (0-1, 8.52) takes the mound for the Ducks against Flying Boxcars righty Nick Trabacchi (0-1, 7.00).
Southern Maryland 5, High Point 3
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers dropped a second straight game to Southern Maryland, falling 5-3 on Friday night at Truist Point in front of a season-high 2,650 fans. Game two of the series is slated for a 6:35 p.m. start on Saturday night.
Southern Maryland took two of three games earlier in the week from the Rockers in Waldorf, Md.
High Point went on top first as Martin Figueroa led off the bottom of the first with a double. After moving to third on a Ben Aklinski fly out to left, Figueroa scored on an RBI single from Connor Owings.
In the fourth, the Blue Crabs tied the game on a Juan Kelly double and a Josh Broughto RBI single. Southern Maryland then took the lead for good in the fifth when Michael Wielansky slammed a solo homer for a 2-1 advantage.
The Blue Crabs added two ore runs in the top of the sixth for a 4-1 lead. Kelly hit a solo homer before Aaron Hill doubled and stole third, scoring on a single by Broughton.
The Rockers battled back in their half of the fifth when Figueroa walked and scored on Aklinski’s home run to left to make it 4-3.
But Southern Maryland added an insurance run in the eighth on a single by Broughton and an RBI double off the bat of Alan Alonso to account for the 5-3 final.
Jeremy Rhoades (L, 1-2) allowed six hits and four runs in his 5.1 innings of work while fanning seven. Blue Crab starter Garrett Martin (W, 2-0) also went 5.1 innings, yielding five hits and three runs. Endrys Briceno put the Rockers down in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year.
Figueroa was the lone Rocker to collect two hits. Broughton led the Blue Crabs with three hits and two RBI.
NOTES: The Rockers added LHP Braeden Ogle to the roster on Friday afternoon… He will take the spot of Peter Solomon whose contract was purchased by the Texas Rangers… The Rockers also added former North Carolina A&T and Wesleyan Christian Academy outfielder Greg White to the roster on Friday.