The bats have been there most of the year.

The bullpen has been solid.

The only thing holding the York Revolution back from a long winning streak, though, was consistency from its starting rotation.

At least that's how Revs' skipper Andy Etchebarren felt.

"The way our starting pitching was, it's tough to put a big streak together," Etchebarren said Thursday night. "When you got a good rotation you can put a really good streak together."

Well, with another solid effort from a starter -- this time lefty Chris Waters -- York won its season-high seventh straight game Thursday. And after taking the first three games of the series by one-run margins, the Revs finished off the Long Island Ducks by a final score

York starter Chris Waters improved his record to 4-5 with his victory over the Ducks. The lefty hurled seven scoreless innings, surrendering just four hits, while striking out six and walking three. The Revs won their seventh straight. (Bil Bowden photo)
of 11-0 to complete a four-game sweep.

Now just one win shy of matching a club-record eight-game winning streak, York (59-50 overall, 23-16 second half) moved 51/2 games up in the wild-card playoff race on Somerset (55-57, 20-22) and stayed 11/2 games back of Lancaster (70-40, 25-15) for first place in the Atlantic League Freedom Division second-half race.

Waters: After a shaky first inning from Waters, in which he let the first two batters reach on a double and a walk, the veteran settled in the rest of the way. He held the Ducks (52-57, 13-27) scoreless over seven innings of work, surrendering just four hits, while striking out six and walking three.

Waters (4-5), who joined York in June just 18 months removed from Tommy John surgery to his throwing elbow, said he has found a groove after going back and forth between being good and below average this season. He has held opponents to two earned runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings in each of his last three games.

"I wouldn't call it (going through) a slump as much as I'd call it feeling healthy and focusing on pitching," Waters said. "Being healthy is half the battle."

Offense: Oh, yeah. York's offense also gave the

Revs third baseman Ramon Castro scoops up a grounder in Thursday nights Atlantic League game. (Bil Bowden photo)
4,405 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium plenty to cheer about with a 16-hit effort. Seven of those came from first baseman Chris Nowak and designated hitter Johan Limonta.

Limonta hit a two-run double in the sixth inning and Nowak followed with a two-run homer to make it 9-0. The following inning, Limonta recorded his fourth hit of the game with a single and Nowak followed him with another two-run blast to cap the Revs' scoring. His teammates acknowledged the feat after giving him the cold shoulder on the first homer.

"They say 'Good swing' to Limonta and nothing to me," Nowak said of his first homer. "So, you know, it happens."

It marked the third two home run performance from Nowak this season. The slugger, who leads the Atlantic League in home runs at 24, is now just one shy of matching the club record he set last year.

Game notes: York chased Long Island starter Bubbie Buzachero (0-1) after getting five runs on seven hits off the right-hander in three innings. ... Etchebarren said Lancaster manager Butch Hobson told him Barnstormers' infielders Kody Kirkland (undisclosed reasons) and Tommy Everidge (injury) are out for the season. ... Former Revs' pitcher Jason Richardson, who has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery with York this summer, was recently cleared to play by team doctors but left the club Tuesday because Etchebarren said he doesn't want to take a chance on Richardson's arm. ... An $8,800 donation was raised Thursday for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through a combination of sponsors and ticket purchases by York County government employees.

Next game: York will now hit the road for a six-game trip, beginning with three at Somerset on Friday, before returning home next Thursday.

-- Reach John Walk at jwalk@yorkdispatch.com.