York 14, Charleston 3
(May 28, 2024 – York, Pa.): The York Revolution welcomed the Charleston Dirty Birds for the first time in 2024 and used an explosive offensive night to supplement a great first start for Jon Olsen, taking a 14-3 win on Tuesday night in front of 4,166 fans at WellSpan Park. Ciaran Devenney (two home runs) and Trey Martin each drove in four in a 15-hit attack by the Revs who are playing the series under their Latin branding, Ritmo de York.
Keon Barnum opened the scoring for Charleston with a two out RBI double in the first inning, but Charleston’s lead did not stand for long.
A day after they did not have a base runner until the fourth inning in a late come-from-behind win, the Revs offense wasted no time in the first inning, jumping on Charleston starter Casey Cobb (0-3). After Jacob Rhinesmith reached on an error and Donovan Casey worked a walk, Martin drove both home on a double to left center. Colton Welker went the other way for a double of his own to score Martin and cap off a three-spot in the first and a quick 3-1 lead.
Alfredo Reyes started the second inning by working a ten-pitch walk before Devenney drove a ball just to the right of the Arch Nemesis and out of the park for his fourth longball of the season, building the lead to 5-1.
Devenney followed in the fourth with yet another two-run blast to left center field, ballooning the lead to 7-1. Matt McDermott scored on a Casey fielder’s choice, and Casey scored on an error later in the frame to cap off a big four-run inning for York as the Revs led 9-1.
Tillman Pugh doubled to start the top of the fifth inning and scored on a fielder’s choice and subsequent throwing error for Charleston’s second run.
After the throwing error, Olsen (2-0) retired the final four batters he faced including two strikeouts in a perfect sixth to finish his first start with York. Across six innings, he gave up two runs on four hits while striking out five. It was York’s second quality start in as many games after Aaron Fletcher allowed three runs over seven frames on Monday.
With two outs in the sixth inning, York expanded the lead even further as Martin drove in a pair with a double to deep right field and Welker singled him home to cap off another three-run frame, putting York up 12-2.
Denny Bentley worked around a leadoff walk in the seventh to throw a scoreless frame on his 26th birthday.
Courtney Hawkins knocked in a run with a single in the eighth inning before Alex Valverde got Barnum to ground into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play.
At the plate with the bases loaded in the eighth, Reyes came through with another big hit, knocking a two-run single into left field, capping off an explosive night for the offense.
Nelvin Correa tossed a 1-2-3 ninth in his season debut to cap off the series opening win.
Zach Neff will look to get back on track for the Revs on Wednesday as he takes the hill at 6:30 PM against Charleston southpaw Gabriel Rodriguez. It is Ritmo de York presented by Bilingual Conexion, Bark in the Park, Winning Wednesday presented by PA Lottery, and YMCA Member Appreciation Day. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.
Notes: Devenney’s two home run night is his second of the season and fourth by a Revs player this year; he reached four times, also drawing a pair of walks. Welker reached four times, including his first multi-hit game in a Revs uniform, a three-hit performance. McDermott extended his hitting streak to 15 games and his on-base streak to 27. The Revs pounded seven extra-base hits including a season-high five doubles. Martin had two of those doubles, going 3-for-5 with three runs in addition to his four RBI. Casey also scored three times. York totaled double digits in runs for the fourth time in the past nine games as the 14 runs were two shy of a season-high 16 set in the opening game of the homestand on Friday night. The Revs have won eight of their last 12 in addition to winning a suspended game completed during that stretch which counts toward an earlier date. York moves back into sole possession of first place, now 18-12 and one game in front of Staten Island who lost on Tuesday night.
High Point 6, Lexington 5
HIGH POINT, N.C- Powered by the bottom of the batting order, the High Point Rockers erased a 5-2 deficit and downed the Lexington Legends 6-5 on Tuesday night at Truist Point.
Evan Edwards, Brian Parreira, Ryan Grotjohn and D.J. Burt combined to go six-for-14 with four runs scored and all five RBI in the win.
Lexington leadoff hitter Gabe Howell started the game with a home run to put the Legends up 1-0 early.
The Rockers responded in the second when Parreira reached on a fielder’s choice and Burt blasted his second homer of the year, putting High Point up 2-1.
Lexington reached High Point starter Taylor Guerrieri for four runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run homer by Pedro Gonzalez, a triple by Keenan O’Brien and a two-run single from Osmy Gregorio to grab a 5-2 advantage.
Ryan Grotjohn’s fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning cut the Rockers deficit to 5-3.
High Point closed the gap to 5-4 in the fifth inning after Zander Weil scored on a sac fly from Evan Edwards.
The Rockers were able to take advantage of a pair of errors by Lexington second baseman Matt Bottcher in the seventh to plate two runs and grab a 6-5 lead. Colin Moran reached on a ball that slid underneath Bottcher’s glove but was erased at second when Wiel grounded into a 5-4 fielder’s choice. A walk to Edwards put two men aboard with Parreira driving home Wiel with a single. A grounder by Grotjohn to second was misplayed by Bottcher, allowing Edwards to score the go-ahead run.
Austin Ross (W, 2-0) earned the win by retiring the final man of the seventh inning and pitching a 1-2-3 eighth. Jameson McGrane worked around a pair of hits in the ninth to earn his fifth save.
Lexington reliever Aldry Acosta (0-1) took the loss.
“We really fought for that one,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “We had to grind it out until the end and I’m happy with the way we battled. Huge hit for Parreira, and the bullpen threw lights out again. It seems like every night we’re saying that but it’s true. They shoved again and they’re a massive part of what’s made us successful to this point in the year. Just a good solid win tonight.
The Rockers improved to 18-11 on the season while Lexington slipped to 7-22. High Point remains 2.5 games behind Gastonia (21-9) which defeated Long Island 9-4 on Tuesday night.
Game two of this three game series between High Point and Lexington will be Wednesday, May 28th at 6:35 p.m.
Lancaster 6, Staten Island 3
The Staten Island FerryHawks were defeated by the reigning champion, Lancaster Stormers by a score of 6-3 on Tuesday on Staten Island to open up a three-game set between the two teams.
The Stormers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd, which was quickly neutralized by Ben Norman, who slugged in his ninth home run of the season, plating two runs. In the following inning, the Stormers responded by plating two runs of their own to make it a 4-2 ball game.
The score would remain at 4-2 until the top of the 6th where the Stormers would score two more runs, extending the lead to a 6-2 ball game. However, the Hawks would not go down easily as a Ben Norman single in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead in half.
With the score at 6-3, the visiting Stormers dipped into their bullpen which delivered three shutout innings to hold off the Hawks and ultimately give Lancaster the win.
FerryHawks starter John Esposito pitched four innings on the day, giving up four hits and four runs alongside two strikeouts. He was relieved by Christian Allegretti, J.P. Woodward, Brian McKenna who combined for 5 innings pitched with 2 earned runs and 6 strikeouts.
Tomorrow the FerryHawks continue their 6 game homestand here in Staten Island with game 2 of the series against the Stormers. The Hawks rally for an early 10:30am first pitch tomorrow with the hopes of winning their 5th series of the season.
Gastonia 9, Long Island 4
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 28, 2024) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Gastonia Baseball Club 9-4 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
Both teams traded zeroes until the bottom of the fourth inning when Ryan McBroom launched a solo home run to left-center field off Gastonia starter Ryan Conroy. A long solo homer down the right field line by Taylor Kohlwey in the fifth doubled the Ducks lead to 2-0.
Gastonia went from two runs down to two runs up in the sixth against Ducks starter Wei-Yin Chen. Zach Racusin’s RBI triple, Jack Reinheimer’s RBI single and a two-run homer to right off the bat of Kevin Watson Jr. did the damage. However, Chance Sisco tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer to left field.
Gastonia took the lead back in the seventh on a double play that scored Eric De La Rosa and a two-run homer to left by Reinheimer. Patrick Mazeika added a two-run homer to right in the eighth to make it a 9-4 ballgame.
Chen did not factor into the decision but tossed six innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five. Conroy (2-2) collected the win, pitching eight innings, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven. Ramon Santos (1-1) took the loss, giving up three unearned runs on three hits and a walk in one inning of relief.
The Ducks and Gastonia Baseball Club continue their three-game set on Wednesday 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). It’s a Waddle In Wednesday at the ballpark, and fans who spend $100 or more at the Waddle In Shop during the game will receive a voucher good for $10 off a future purchase at the team store during the 2024 season (limit one voucher per person, per game). Right-hander Daniel Corcino (2-1, 3.12) takes the mound for the Ducks against Gastonia righty Mike Wright Jr. (season debut).
Hagerstown 4, Southern Maryland 2
On a rainy evening at Meritus Park, the Boxcars emerged victorious after going six scoreless innings.
The game began with both teams showing off their defensive prowess, keeping the scoreboard clean through the first few innings. Southern Maryland’s Daryl Thompson and Hagerstown’s Chase Solesky engaged in a pitching duel, keeping each other scoreless for much of the game.
However, in the sixth, the Blue Crabs broke the deadlock with a run, but it was the Flying Boxcars who answered back in the bottom of the seventh.
With two on base, Cito Culver, the Boxcars’ second baseman, stepped up to the plate and delivered a booming home run, swinging just fair down the first base line, and giving the Boxcars the lead for good.
Solesky’s stellar performance on the mound earned him the win, supported by solid relief from Rafael Kelley and Domingo Jiminez, who closed out the game with two scoreless innings.
Culver went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, leading the way for Hagerstown in their first ever matchup against in-state opponents, Southern Maryland.