Road Warriors (34-76, 12-35) @ York Revolution (63-46, 27-19)

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Sovereign Bank Stadium:  York, PA

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GAME TURNS UGLY AGAINST REVS IN LATE INNINGS AS ROAD WARRIORS TAKE OPENER

After a tame seven innings, thing turned ugly late as the York Revolution dropped their series opener to the Road Warriors 10-4 in front of 3,946 fans on Saturday night at Sovereign Bank Stadium.  The Revs, whose first place lead shrunk to 4.0 games, will look to get even with a doubleheader between the two teams on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.

The game began as a pitcher’s duel with York starter Corey Thurman allowing just two runs through seven strong innings, but trailing 2-1 throughout.

The Road Warriors plated a pair of first inning runs scoring their first on an error and adding another on an RBI single to right by Melvin Dorta.

The Revs answered with a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Salvador Paniagua off the first base bag.

Thurman retired nine straight at one point and did not allow a run the rest of the way, while striking out seven on the night, but was denied a chance at tying the Revs’ single-season wins record of 12 by taking a no-decision.

The Road Warriors increased their lead to 4-1 in the eighth as Vic Gutierrez drove in a run on a single, and Michael Mooney took a bases loaded walk to force in another run.

York tied the game in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the eighth.  Jose Herrera drew a four pitch walk to start the inning, and Chris Nowak followed with a line drive homerun to left, his 23^rd of the season, pulling him within one of matching the Revs’ single-season homerun record.  James Shanks followed with another line drive homerun to left on the very next pitch, tying the score at 4-4.

The Road Warriors scored six times in the top of the ninth, however.  Adrian Ortiz scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by R.J. Rodriguez during an attempted intentional walk.  A second run scored when Josh Johnson reached on an infield single, and second baseman Bryant Nelson flipped errantly to second base while tumbling over after making a great diving stop.  Mooney followed with a two-run triple to right-center and scored on a wild pitch, and Marcos Cabral capped it with an RBI single.

Rodriguez (2-3) suffered the loss while Bridgeport’s Eddy Ramos (1-1) earned the win despite allowing the two homeruns in the bottom of the eighth.

The Revs have lost back-to-back home games for the first time since being swept in a doubleheader on August 7.

Sunday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. with Revs righty Lorenzo Barcelo (3-0, 1.90) facing Road Warriors lefty Miguel Martinez (6-11, 4.06) in the opener.  York will send right-hander Justin Edwards to the mound to make his debut in game two, opposite southpaw Jason Norderum (2-5, 6.47).  Gates open at 12 p.m. for an Autograph Sunday with Catch on the Field presented by Runkle’s Notary and postgame Kids Run the Bases presented by rabbittransit.  The day also features Shurfine Baseball Bingo, and it is a Bark in the Park day at Sovereign Bank Stadium.  Tickets are available at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS and in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office.