YORK REVOLUTION

Guzman's solo blast caps rally for York over Somerset

STAFF REPORT
  • York moved to 10-9 in Atlantic League second-half action.
  • The Revs' overall record now stands at 50-39.
  • York will now begin a four-game home series vs. rival Lancaster.

If there was one major factor in helping the York Revolution win the first-half Atlantic League Freedom Division title, and clinch a playoff berth, it was the team's ability to rally for victories.

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.

Comebacks of all different sorts were a regularity for York during the first half.

Wednesday night, the Revs gave an indication that the second half may provide more of the same, delighting the home fans with another winning rally.

Joel Guzman hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap a four-run comeback for the Revs and give them a 4-3 victory over the Somerset Patriots at PeoplesBank Park.

Guzman's long ball was the final piece to York (50-39) erasing an early 3-0 deficit and getting above the .500 mark (10-9) for just the second time in the still-early second half of the season.

After Guzman put the Revs on top for the first time on the night, the win was all but a formality. Atlantic League saves leader Mike DeMark was called on to nail down a save for the second straight night. DeMark, who has an ERA of 1.09, had a perfect 1-2-3 inning to earn his 24th save of the season.

The York offense got off to a slow start in the game and it was Somerset (49-41) which broke open the game's scoring with a run in the top of the fourth off of Revs' starter James Simmons.

Simmons pitched well through the fifth inning, but ran into trouble in the top of the sixth and had to exit with two outs in the sixth and two runners on base. Nate Reed came on to try to get York out of the jam, but surrendered a single, allowing the two Patriots' runners to score, making it 3-0. Simmons' final line ended at 5 2/3 innings pitched, three runs, all earned, on eight hits, a walk and five strikeouts.

In the bottom half of the frame the Revs' offense awoke and began its comeback. York responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, first with Guzman hitting a sacrificing fly to plate Travis Witherspoon to make it 3-1. Then, with two outs, the Revs strung together four consecutive hits, with Bryan Pounds singling home Andres Perez to make it 3-2 and Michael Rockett following suit with an RBI single, scoring Kevin Rivers to tie the game at 3-3.

The game stayed that way into the bottom of the eighth until Guzman broke the deadlock with the eventual game-winning homer.

Scott Rice earned the win for York by pitching a scoreless top of the eighth.

Jared Mitchell, Pounds and Rockett each had two-hit nights at the plate for the Revs, while Guzman led the team with two runs batted in.

The victory gave York the series victory in the three-game set. York will now welcome the rival Lancaster Barnstormers into town for a four-game series beginning on Thursday. First pitch for that game is set for 6:30 p.m. at PeoplesBank Park.