Road Warriors (29-69, 7-28) @ York Revolution (55-42, 19-15)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sovereign Bank Stadium:  York, PA

CLICK HERE FOR FULL BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

GARCEAU STEALS THE SHEAU, FIRES SECOND COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT IN REVS HISTORY

Shaun Garceau turned in arguably the greatest pitching performance in York Revolution history on Saturday night, firing a complete game four-hit shutout against the Road Warriors in front of 4,507 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium.  It was only the second complete game shutout in Revolution history, and first since Chris Steinborn blanked the Lancaster Barnstormers on July 25, 2007.  The Revs now lead the Freedom Division’s second half by two games and will go for the series sweep on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Garceau struck out a career-high-tying nine while going nine innings for the first time in his pro career.

The Revs jumped ahead with two runs in the first on back-to-back RBI doubles by Ramon Castro and Jose Herrera for a 2-0 lead.

Herrera drove in his second run of the night on a grounder back to relief pitcher Chris Mason in the fifth.  Mason juggled the ball with the bases loaded, costing him a potential force at home plate.

The Revs tacked on two more in the eighth on a single to left field by Octavio Martinez.

Garceau’s four-hitter set a club record for fewest hits allowed in a complete game.  He took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning, not allowing a hit from the third through the seventh.  Seven of his nine strikeouts came in the first four innings.

It was the second time in three starts that Garceau carried a shutout into the ninth, and the third time this season that a Revs pitcher took a shutout into the ninth inning, but the first time since 2007 that a York hurler finished the feat.

The nine-inning complete game was the second for the Revs this season.  Matt DeSalvo went nine in a victory at Lancaster on July 9, the Revs’ first nine-inning complete game since 2008.  It’s the sixth nine-inning complete game in Revs history, and this season is the first time since 2007 that the Revs have received more than one nine-inning complete game performance.

The 5-0 final was the exact same score as Steinborn’s shutout, a 10-hitter in 2007.

Only one base runner reached scoring position all night against Garceau, when Marcos Cabral walked in the sixth and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

The Revs are now tied for the league lead with seven shutouts, one shy of their club record for shutouts in a season (eight in 2008).  It is the Revs’ third shutout in the last seven games, and the fifth time in the last seven games they have allowed no earned runs.  They have not allowed an earned run in either of the first two games of the series against the Road Warriors.

Notes: Scott Grimes scored twice for the Revs, and has now crossed the plate seven times in the last four games, while going 7-for-17 at the plate (2-for-5 on Saturday night).  The Revs have drawn more than 4,000 fans to each of the first three games on the current homestand.  The Road Warriors lost their 12^th consecutive game.  The Revs’ two-game lead in the division is their largest of the second half.  With wins the last two nights, the Revs are now a combined 23-12 on Fridays and Saturdays this season, 14-5 at home.  The 55-42 record is the Revs’ best in club history through 97 games.  York is now one win shy of tying the club record of 14 games over .500.  The Revs will go for their club record eighth sweep of the season on Sunday with righty Dumas Garcia (0-2, 7.36) opposing the Road Warriors’ Luke Massetti (7-11, 6.08) at 5 p.m.  Gates open at 4 p.m. with a pregame Full Team Autograph Session and Catch on the Field presented by Runkle’s Notary, and Postgame Kids Run the Bases presented by rabbittransit.  Fans can play Shurfine Baseball Bingo during the game and there is a Seafood Sunday Feast in the Bud Light Picnic Pavilion beginning at 4:15 p.m.  Any fan who shows a ticket stub in the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office from either of the Revs’ road games in Lancaster on Tuesday or Wednesday receives half off their ticket to Sunday’s game.  Tickets are also available at YorkRevolution.com and (717) 801-HITS.