YORK REVOLUTION

Revs' pitchers rack up 24 strikeouts in 13-inning win

STAFF REPORT

York pitchers struck out a record 24 batters over 13 innings on Sunday.
Jared Mitchell delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 13th.
York starter Ty’Relle Harris struck out 11 over six scoreless innings.

Jared Mitchell laced a walk-off two-out single in the bottom of the 13th inning to help the York Revolution outlast the New Britain Bees 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at PeoplesBank Park.

The Revs (5-5, 45-35) completed the three-game sweep of the Bees (3-7, 39-41) to get back to action after the All-Star break.

York's Joel Guzman drove in two runs, including hitting the eventual game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to give the Revs a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Somerset Patriots on Thursday night.

With two outs against New Britain reliever Eric Fornataro, Salvador Paniagua beat out an infield single to start a rally. Travis Witherspoon then drew a walk and Josh Wilson came in to pinch-run for Paniagua at second. On a 1-0 pitch from Fornataro, Mitchell spanked a liner off the wall in right field. Wilson waltzed home and the team came out to mob Mitchell on second, sending those who remained from a matinee crowd of 3,132 home happy.

“I knew I was going to get something to hit early,” Mitchell said, “so I was getting myself ready if I got something to hit. I got something good to hit. This was a big game for us to come out here and battle and keep battling and keep battling. Hopefully it sets the tone for the rest of the second half.”

Luis Perdomo (3-1) earned the win after striking out the side in the top of the 13th, finishing off a new Revolution pitching record of 24 strikeouts in one game. The York arms demolished the old record of 16.

Fornataro (1-4) took the loss after surrendering the walkoff to Mitchell.

Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision despite stellar outings. Ty’Relle Harris set a York season high for one pitcher with 11 strikeouts over six scoreless innings. He scattered four singles and walked two while doing some heavy lifting with 110 pitches.

York's Michael Rockett catches the ball at second to force out New Britain's Jovan Rosa on Sunday.

Jarrett Leverett settled down after a spotty beginning to put together a quality start, allowing three runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts of his own over seven innings. He only gave up two hits after the third inning.

For the second straight game the Revs gave their starter a lead in the first inning. Joel Guzman belted a no-doubt solo home run over the Arch Nemesis, his 11th of the season, to break the ice against Leverett. Bryan Pounds followed in the second, cracking his own towering homer to left to make it 2-0.

Guzman singled with two outs in the third inning, then Andres Perez lifted a sky-high fly ball down the right field line that bounced high off the dirt and over right fielder Anthony Hewitt’s head, allowing Guzman to score on the double to make it 3-0.

Harris methodically mowed through the Bees from there, striking out three batters in an inning three times, including a whiff of Jonathan Roof in the sixth to secure his second quality start since transitioning from the bullpen in mid-June.

Nate Reed, Manny Corpas, and Ricardo Gomez combined to take York through the seventh and eighth innings, giving the ball to Mike DeMark in the ninth. The Atlantic League’s best closer hit a rare hiccup, though, surrendering a two-run homer to Jon Griffin. After Hewitt walked and went to second on a sac bunt, Greg Golson rolled an infield single to short that Brandon Chaves made a diving stop on but threw away at first base, allowing Hewitt to score the tying run. The blown save was only DeMark’s second in 23 opportunities this season.

Nick Murphy dropped a blooper into shallow center and legged out a hustle double with two outs in the top of the 11th. Golson then lined a single to the same spot to plate Murphy and give the Bees their first lead of the series at 4-3.

The lead was short-lived, though, as the Revs brought home a run of their own in the bottom of the 11th. Kevin Rivers singled to lead off and went to second on a sac bunt by Michael Rockett. Pounds followed with a single to center, and Rivers scored ahead of the throw to tie it at 4-4.

Jose Arredondo handled a perfect 12th and Perdomo overwhelmed the Bees in the 13th to set up Mitchell’s heroics.

Mitchell’s game-winner was his only hit of the game. He finished 1 for 6 with a walk and a stolen base, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Mitchell has now hit safely in 11 of his first 12 games with the Revolution.

Guzman went 2-for-6 with a home run, two runs and his league-leading 56th RBI. He drove in 70 runs over the whole of last season in Camden. Rivers and Pounds each notched a pair of hits.

Murphy finished 2-for-3 with a double, run, walk, and sac bunt for New Britain. Golson, Craig Maddox, and Griffin each had two hits.

Notes: Sunday’s game tied for the longest by innings for the Revs this season, matching a 13-inning home affair on Memorial Day against Somerset. ... York now has 25 comeback victories on the season, 11 shy of the team record of 36 (2008, 2014). ... The Revs have not lost when leading after eight innings this year (37-0). ... Revs pitching struck out 54 in the three-game series. Harris’ 11 strikeouts were the most for a Revs starter since Chris Cody fanned 12 Patriots on July 24, 2013, at Somerset. He has now racked up 27 strikeouts in 18 innings over his last three starts. ... York starting pitching (Simmons, Gailey, Harris) combined for 18 scoreless innings in the series, allowing just 12 hits (all singles) and striking out 26. ... After a Monday off, the Revs will send out Tony Pena (5-4, 3.91) to welcome the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for a three-game series on Tuesday night.