Etchebarren

It had happened to Andy Etchebarren four times last year.

In 2010, the York Revolution skipper got ejected five times. And the year before just once.

Sometimes Etchebarren intentionally gets himself tossed to motivate his team. Other times he does it because he disapproves of an umpires' call.

On Monday night, though, it was simple. Etchebarren disagreed with the balls-and-strikes calls by home plate umpire Chase Edmondson.

The call that finally pushed Etchebarren over the edge came in the top of the eighth, when reliever Omar Javier fired a 2-2 slider to catcher Salvador Paniagua. Edmondson called it a ball.

"I didn't like the 2-2 slider that was right down the (middle) that he called a ball," Etchebarren said. "I was gonna go out and take (Javier) out of the game. I said 'it's not (Javier's) fault, it's (Edmondson's) fault.'"

The ejection ended up being one of very few highlights for the 2,906 fans at Sovereign Bank to cheer about on Monday. The Revs walked away with a 5-1 loss to the Sugar Land Skeeters (10-14), who picked up the win in their first game in York.

With the loss, and the Lancaster Barnstormers' 8-1 win vs. Long Island, York (8-15) dropped 51/2 games behind first-place Lancaster (14-10) in the Atlantic League Freedom Division.

The Revs scored their lone run in the first when Stephen Douglas crossed the plate from third after a wild pitch by Sugar Land starter Derrick Gordon.

Despite the poor showing at the plate, Etchebarren said he's "feeling better about the team."

Part of that is because of the flurry of moves the team made on Monday. Another part is because he liked what he saw out of starter Jesus Sanchez and reliever Omar Javier.

In his first start since April 29, Sanchez allowed one run on three hits in 31/3 innings. Javier gave up three runs on six hits in 42/3 innings out of the bullpen, but two of the runs were scored after a throwing error by catcher Salvador Paniagua.

A night after collecting nine hits in a 6-3 win over Lancaster, York had just five hits Monday. Like Etchebarren, though, Revs' first baseman Chris Nowak is confident in the offense, too.

"We look at it game by game. Hopefully we can keep moving forward," he said. "Once again tonight we had some hard-hit balls right at guys. It's just Revs' baseball."

Moves: York signed two players and traded away another on Monday. The Revs' signed ex-major league outfielder Bobby Kielty and relief pitcher Andy Wells.

They traded utility infielder Joe Spiers to the Lincoln Saltdogs, of the independent American Association.

Kielty has played in 599 career major league games for Minnesota, Toronto, Oakland and Boston between 2001 and 2007. In the majors, Kielty has accumulated 53 home runs and 253 RBIs, with a .254 average. His last at-bat in the majors was a solo homer in Game 4 of the 2007 World Series that gave Boston a 4-1 lead.

Wells will make his Atlantic League debut after spending his first two pro seasons split between four different independent clubs. Spiers saw limited action but hit .286 in three games for York.

Next game: York will host Sugar Land again Tuesday, with Revs' left-hander Yunior Novoa (0-2, 6.23 ERA) getting the start against righty Matt Wright (1-0, 2.10). Novoa is starting in place of righty Shawn Hill, who is battling soreness in the left part of his back.

-- Reach John Walk at 505-5406 or jwalk@york dispatch.com or follow on Twitter @YorkSportsGuy.