York 8, High Point 7
(July 16, 2024 – York, Pa.): Tuesday night’s series opener saw a battle of win streaks, as the York Revolution put their five-game streak on the line against the seven-game run of the High Point Rockers. In the end, it was the Revs who grinded out the comeback win, their sixth straight, taking down the Rockers 8-7 at WellSpan Park to kick off a six-game homestand.
The Rockers jumped out to an early lead against starter Michael Horrell, with Quincy Latimore roping a two run double to left field. Jake Washer added a two-out single later in the frame to cap off a three run first inning.
Rudy Martin Jr drove a double off of the top of the Arch Nemesis in the bottom half, eventually scoring on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Rockers got two runners on with one out against Horrell in the second, but the righty responded with a strikeout and catcher Michael Berglund cut down a runner trying to steal third base to end the inning.
After a 43-minute rain delay in the bottom of the second, Neil Ramirez and Horrell each pitched scoreless frames coming back strong from the hiatus.
Matt McDermott blooped a one out single in the bottom of the third, and with two outs, Colton Welker ripped a hard single to left field. Latimore fielded the ball on one hop, but an aggressive send worked in York’s favor as McDermott breezed past the tag of Washer to cut it back to a one-run game at 3-2.
Horrell ran into trouble in the fourth as Ben Aklinski delivered the big blow with a three-run homer to left-center field, building the Rockers lead to 6-2.
The Revs loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning against Ramirez but were only able to get one run, which came on a ground ball double play. After four, the Rockers still nursed a 6-3 lead.
McDermott led off the fifth inning by taking a fastball over the Nemesis for his ninth home run of the season and first since June 13 at Long Island. Martin Jr followed with a single and stole both second and third base to bring his league-leading season total to 50. He proceeded to score on a Welker sac fly. With two outs, Zander Wiel came to the plate representing the tying run against his former team and on a full count pitch, drove a solo blast onto the lawn in right center field to tie the game at 6-6.
Denny Bentley had pitched an efficient 1-2-3 fifth inning but was greeted in the sixth by Brian Parreira who ripped a solo home run to right field just inside of the foul pole to put the Rockers back in front, 7-6. Bentley (2-0) walked Clayton Mehlbauer but retired the next three on a pair of strikeouts and a fielder’s choice to keep it a one-run game.
Alfredo Reyes led off the sixth inning by turning a slow roller to second base into a double as it snuck under second baseman Martin Figueroa’s glove into shallow right center field with Reyes was hustling the entire way. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Pantoja, Reyes was 90 feet away from tying the game when Martin Jr came to the plate with two outs. Martin Jr legged out a slow roller to second base to tie the game at 7-7 and raced around to score the go-ahead run as Welker drove in his third run of the night with a double to right field one batter later.
High Point pitching retired the final seven Revs hitters, but York’s bullpen tossed up a trio of zeroes to close out the game.
Frankie Bartow worked around a pair of singles to leave runners at the corners in a scoreless seventh.
Matt Turner overmatched two Rockers hitters with strike outs before retiring Aklinski on a ground out to work a perfect eighth.
Brett Schulze overcame a first pitch hit batter and a two-out single, retiring Washer on a line out to center to record his third save in as many attempts.
York will look for a series win on Wednesday night when Ethan Lindow (8-4, 6.10) takes the ball against High Point righty Cooper Casad (2-1, 4.21) at 6:30 PM. It is Summer Olympics Kick-Off, Members 1st Federal Credit Union Customer Appreciation Night, Winning Wednesday presented by PA Lottery, and Bark in the Park with a Chew Toy Toss. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
Notes: Martin Jr recorded his 50th steal of the season, becoming just the third Revolution player to record 50 steals in a season, joining the co-franchise record holders Wilson Valdez (55, 2014) and Darian Sanford (55, 2021). He also stole his 27th consecutive stolen base, tying the franchise record set by Kobe Kato earlier this season. The Revs stole three bases and now have 206 steals as a team this season, ninth most in Atlantic League history. The six-game winning streak is the Revs’ third streak of six games or longer this season; all have occurred since June 18 as the Revs are now 20-5 since that date. York improves to 49-23 overall and 24-12 at home. McDermott has hit safely in 14 straight starts. Welker has an 11-game hitting streak and now has 39 RBI in his last 25 games. Wiel’s homer is his 15th this season and second in seven games with York; it is the 76th home run of his Atlantic League career. Atlantic League All-Star and June Player of the Month David Washington re-signed with York prior to Tuesday’s game after having his contract purchased by a team in the Mexican League; he batted cleanup and played first base in his first game with York since June 29 and returns with a tie for the league lead in home runs with 23 on the season.
Long Island 8, Staten Island 3
(Staten Island, N.Y., July 16, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Staten Island FerryHawks 8-3 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park.
Long Island took a 1-0 lead against Staten Island starting pitcher Malik Binns in the top of the first inning as Ivan Castillo opened the ballgame with a leadoff home run off the batter’s eye in straightaway centerfield. Staten Island tied the game at one in the second versus Ducks starter Stephen Woods Jr. courtesy of a solo four-bagger to center off the bat of Luis Castro.
The Ducks went back out in front 2-1 in the third on Aaron Antonini’s walk with the bases loaded and made it 5-1 in their favor in the fourth as Frank Schwindel cleared the bases with a three-run double. The visitors broke the game wide open in the sixth as they scored three more times for an 8-1 advantage, highlighted by a two-run double produced by JC Encarnacion and a run-scoring base knock from Joe Suozzi who was making his debut for the Flock
Woods Jr. (5-4) picked up the win, allowing just one run on six hits (one home run) across six innings pitched, walking two while striking out three as the right-hander tallied his third quality start of the season. Binns (3-6) was tagged with the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits (one home run) over three and two-thirds innings of work, walking five and striking out one.
Schwindel had two hits, three RBIs and a run scored and Encarnacion also collected a pair of hits and RBIs along with a run scored, a walk and a season-high three stolen bases and Long Island also drew a season-best 13 walks in the winning effort.
The Ducks and FerryHawks continue their three-game set on Wednesday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park. Fans can follow all the action live on FloBaseball by CLICKING HERE. Left-hander Jimmy Robbins (4-3, 6.87) toes the rubber for the Ducks against FerryHawks righty Taylor Lepard (0-2, 7.87).
Long Island returns home on Friday, July 19, to open a three-game series with the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. 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 1,500 fans in attendance will receive Ducks T-Shirts, courtesy of Discover Long Island. It’s also a Tap Room Friday, and Ducks staff members will be handing out coupons with a special offer from The Tap Room 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 13, Hagerstown 7
The Lancaster Stormers are becoming accustomed to huge innings.
After scoring seven in the sixth inning on Saturday and ten in the seventh on Sunday, Lancaster erupted for seven runs in the top of the first inning and went on to defeat the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, 13-7, at Meritus Park on Tuesday evening.
Mason Martin staked the Stormers to a quick 4-0 lead with a grand slam off Parker Markel (2-4) before the first out of the game was recorded. One out later, Gaige Howard looped a double down the left field line. Shawon Dunston, Jr. followed with a two-run blast to right and the Stormers were up by six. A bases loaded walk to Niko Hulsizer led to the Stormers seventh run.
Hagerstown would not give up. Luis Diaz knocked in two with a single in the bottom of the second. The teams alternated single runs in the third with Isan Diaz picking up Damon Dues with a single in the top of the inning and Cito Culver greeting Max Green (7-4) with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning.
Dunston keyed a two-run fourth with a triple off the boards in right as the lead was built to 10-3.
However, the Flying Boxcars would pick up a pair in the bottom of the inning around an RBI triple by Welington Dotel. Green gave way to reliever Adam Wibert in the sixth. A lost fly ball in left, and a two-run single up the middle proved costly as Hagerstown came within three. Wibert settled down and got the final two outs to preserve the lead.
While Hagerstown was done for the night, the Stormers picked up some insurance in the next two innings. Martin drove in one with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Chris Proctor hit the longest homer of the night, a two-run rocket to right center in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Oscar De La Cruz (0-2) will square off against lefty Mike Kickham (4-6) at 6:30 on Wednesday. Fans may tune into FloBaseball at 6:25.
NOTES: Lancaster has scored 42 runs in the last three games…Damon Dues has reached base 12 times in the three games…Gaige Howard had his second four-hit game of the season…Proctor tied Cristian Santana for the team RBI lead with 47…Santana has been gone for five weeks…Dunston has 20 RBI in his last 16 games.
Charleston 8, Lexington 6
Lexington, KY – July 16, 2024 – In an intense matchup at Legends Field, the Lexington Legends narrowly missed a comeback, falling to the Charleston Dirty Birds 8-6. Despite a valiant effort in the later innings, the Legends were unable to overcome an early deficit.
The Dirty Birds took an early lead with a run in the second inning and extended their advantage with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. The Legends responded with a two-run burst in the sixth inning all while being no hit and a thrilling four-run rally in the seventh, but Charleston’s consistent scoring, including two runs in the eighth and an insurance run in the ninth, secured their victory.
JT Riddle led the Legends’ offense, going 1-for-2 with a double and 2 RBIs. Pedro Gonzalez also added 2 RBIs, and Kole Cottam and Korry Howell each drew multiple walks to spark the seventh-inning rally.
The Legends will look to bounce back in their next game against the Charleston Dirty Birds on Wednesday, July 16, 2024. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Legends Field.
Gastonia 13, Southern Maryland 9