York 8, Lexington 3
(August 22, 2024 – Lexington, Ky.): The York Revolution blasted three home runs and received a strong combined effort on the mound in an 8-3 win over the Lexington Legends on Thursday night at Legends Field. The Revs take two out of three for another series win, improving to 69-34 on the season, tied for the league’s best overall record.
The Revs jumped in front in the top of the first as Zander Wiel launched a two-out, two-run homer down the left field line to open the scoring.
Lexington answered as the Revs’ typically stout defense failed to convert on a pair of potential double play grounders, leading to a pair of unearned runs on Jacob Barfield’s two-out, two-run single to left.
The Legends took the lead in the second as JT Riddle’s ground ball, which resulted in another error, plated a run for a 3-2 lead.
Matt McDermott slugged a two-run homer to left in the top of the third to thrust the Revs right back in front. Jacob Rhinesmith added an RBI ground out later in the inning as the Revs held a 5-3 lead.
Ciaran Devenney (3-for-4) hammered a solo homer to left in the top of the sixth, and Wiel (3-for-5) capped a four-RBI performance with a two-run single to left in the top of the ninth to round out the Revs’ offensive performance.
Spot starter Tom Sutera finished strong with a scoreless third, as only one of his runs allowed was earned.
Chris Vallimont (4-2) fired three shutout frames in relief to earn the win.
Denny Bentley handled a 1-2-3 seventh inning, marking his ninth consecutive scoreless outing. Oliver Garcia took care of a perfect eighth, and Matt Turner allowed just a pair of singles, striking out the final two in a scoreless ninth to close it out.
The Revs remain half a game back of first at 26-14 in the second half while improving to 37-16 on the road. They have won 15 of 18 road series (15-2-1) and improve to 24-6-3 in series overall on the season.
The Revs continue their road trip on Friday night at Hagerstown with LHP Ethan Lindow squaring off against Boxcars righty Yeudy Garcia at 6:30 p.m. Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and FloBaseball.TV beginning at 6:10 p.m.
Notes: Rhinesmith lost a 12-game hitting streak despite picking up his 65th RBI of the season; he has driven in a run in eight of his last nine games. McDermott extended his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games. Wiel has now hit nine of his 22 home runs since joining the Revs and has 36 RBI in 38 games played with York.
Long Island 6, Staten Island 2
(Central Islip, N.Y., Aug. 22, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Staten Island FerryHawks 6-2 on Thursday night in the rubber game of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. With the victory, the Ducks clinched the 2024 Battle of the Belt between the Empire State rivals.
The FerryHawks took a 1-0 lead four batters into the ballgame on Ben Norman’s RBI fielder’s choice off Ducks starting pitcher Chris Ellis. Long Island answered right back in the home half of the first frame with five runs versus Staten Island starter John Esposito, highlighted by two-run singles from Ryan McBroom and Kole Kaler and a bases loaded walk issued to Taylor Kohlwey.
The Flock opened up a 6-1 advantage in the third on a leadoff home run to left field by Aaron Antonini. The visitors cut the deficit to 6-2 in the sixth thanks to a Jackson Loftin run-scoring base hit. Staten Island would get no closer as the bullpen trio of Peyton Williams, Jake Fishman and David Griffin shut the door by recording the final ten outs of the contest.
Ellis (1-0) recorded his first victory in a Ducks uniform after allowing two runs on five hits in five and two-thirds innings pitched, walking four and striking out six. Esposito (1-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up five runs on two hits in just one-third of an inning on the mound, walking four while striking out one.
Yonny Hernandez had two hits, a run scored and a stolen base en route to the triumph, while Antonini tallied a pair of walks and two runs scored to go along with his roundtripper to extend his on-base streak to 20 consecutive games overall.
The Ducks hit the road on Friday night to open a three-game series against the Lancaster Stormers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Nick Tropeano (2-0, 5.76) gets the start for the Flock against Stormers righty Noah Bremer (8-6, 3.82).
The Ducks return home on Friday, August 30, to begin a four-game set against the Lancaster Stormers. 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). The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive Bucket Hats, courtesy of Merch & Swag. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons for 20% off your entire check and 50% off your first online or mobile app order as fans exit the ballpark. Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.
Lancaster 9, Hagerstown 1
att Swarmer pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings, and Isan Diaz drove in three runs off a double and a triple as the Lancaster Stormers completed a series sweep with a 9-1 victory over the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars Thursday evening at Meritus Park.
With the victory, the Stormers retained a one-half game lead over York in the North Division. They trail the High Point Rockers by one-half game for a possible wild card spot.
Swarmer (4-2) yielded six hits, all singles. The right-hander walked and struck out nine against the Boxcars, who were facing Swarmer for the first time. Hagerstown did not advance a runner into scoring position until the seventh when consecutive one-out singles by Ozzie Abreu and Tyler Hill created a threat. Both moved ahead on a wild pitch. Swarmer fanned Demetrius Moorer for the second out before getting final out relief help from A.J. Alexy.
Justin Dyksma pitched the final two innings in his professional debut. The 22-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan got the side in order in the eighth before yielding a run on two walks and two weak singles in the ninth.
Chris Proctor, who would ultimately go 3-for-5, drove in a run with a triple in the second inning, and Joseph Carpenter made it 2-0 with an RBI single to center in the second.
The Stormers broke the game open against Marvin Gorgas (3-8) in the fourth inning. Joe Stewart lined a single into right and went to third on a perfectly placed hit-and-run single by Proctor. Trace Loehr singled home one run, and following a bunt, Diaz smoked a double to deep right for a 5-0 lead.
Lancaster’s offense would be quiet until the eighth when Damon Dues singled home Proctor. Diaz drove in another with a triple to the right field corner.
Carpenter capped the scoring with a two-run homer to right in the ninth.
Lancaster hosts the Long Island Ducks on Friday. Noah Bremer (8-6) will take the hill for the Stormers against right-hander Nick Tropeano (2-0). Fans may tune into the game on FloBaseball at 6:40.
NOTES: Diaz extended his hitting streak to 11 games and his RBI streak to eight…He has 11 extra-base hits (8 2B, 3B, 2 HR) in those 11 games and has knocked in 17 runs…Carpenter became the fifth Stormer this season to reach 12 homers, but no one has more than 13…Swarmer came one short of his sixth 10-K performance over his two seasons with Lancaster…His ERA dropped to 4.06…He has 77 strikeouts in 64.1 innings of work…Proctor had a pair of three-hit games in the series…Lancaster banged out 40 hits in the three games.
High Point 7, Gastonia 3
HIGH POINT, N.C. (August 22, 2024) – Connor Owings and Evan Edwards each belted two run homers to help the High Point Rockers to a 7-3 win over the Gastonia Baseball Club n Thursday night at Truist Point.
Owings finished the night with three hits, including a double, and three RBI, as the Rockers ended the series by taking two of three from the Baseball Club.
Jeremy Rhoades (W, 4-3) fanned six over his 5.1 innings of work and yielded just five hits and three runs in earning the win. Gastonia’s Gunnar Kines allowed seven runs on five hits in his four innings of work.
Gastonia took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run homer from Jacob Robson. The Rockers responded in the bottom of the second when Quincy Nieporte singled and scored on Edwards’ homer to tie the game. The Rockers added three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead. D.J. Burt doubled and scored on a single by Ryan Grotjohn before Owings blasted a two-run homer.
Grotjohn doubled and scored on an Owings single in the fifth to push the Rockers’ lead to 6-2. Gastonia’s final run came in the top of the sixth when Marc Flores singled and moved to third on a pair of walks. Eric De La Rosa then singled home Flores.
High Point’s final run came in the bottom of the eighth as Burt singled, stole second, then scored from second on a wild pitch.
The Rockers (22-18) remain in third place in the Atlantic League’s South Division, one game behind Gastonia (23-17) and 4.5 games behind Charleston (27-14).
The Rockers now embark on their longest road trip of the season, playing the next nine games on the road. High Point returns to Truist Point to open a six-game homestand against the Lexington Legends on Tuesday, September 3.
Charleston 7, Southern Maryland 5