Botts Extends Revolution Win Streak To Five With 10th Inning Homer
Published on May 5, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
York Revolution News Release
On Thursday night in front of a raucous Sovereign Bank Stadium crowd, the abbreviated two-game series that was also the first re-match of last year's thrilling five-game Freedom Division playoff series wrapped up between the Revolution and Somerset Patriots. In a homestand filled with late inning drama and comebacks, including Wednesday's five-run ninth for an 8-7 Revs win, York wowed the faithful once again with a Jason Botts walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th for a 4-3 victory. The heroics from Botts came after York squandered a 3-0 lead after seven innings. The triumph extends the Revolution's franchise-best start to 5-0, and each of the last four contests have been decided by just one run as the opening homestand of 2011 drew to a close.
On a cloudless night for baseball at "The Vault", right-handers Kris Honel for Somerset and Matt DeSalvo for York locked horns in an early pitcher's duel. DeSalvo would last longer than his counterpart however, as the Revolution broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth.
Honel hit CF Scott Grimes with two outs and a runner on second after a 3B Vince Harrison single and steal, which spelled the end of his night after 4.2 innings - his first start of the young season. RHP Casey Cahill came in to relieve, and promptly surrendered back-to-back RBI singles to 2B Liu Rodriguez and RF Val Majewski, scoring Harrison and Grimes respectively from second to make the score 2-0. The final line on Honel was two hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
Majewski tacked on another run in the seventh to make it 3-0, on a run-scoring single to left that scored Grimes after he rapped a one-out single. Grimes was moved to third on a double lined to the right field corner by Rodriguez. That damage came off Patriots RHP Jeff Kennard.
The final line on DeSalvo read 5.1 shutout innings, two hits with six strikeouts and a lone walk, but he would not factor into the decision thanks to the late Somerset rally.
The Patriots struck back in the visitors half of the eighth, plating two runs off Revs reliever RHP Mike DeMark. It started with a two-out walk to SS Iggy Suarez, who scored all the way from first after a two-out triple from CF Joe Holden into the right field corner. Holden scored a batter later on a double by SS Fernando Cortez. DeMark responded though, stranding Cortez at second by striking out 3B Jeff Nettles swinging to end the inning, preserving the lead at 3-2.
RHP R.J. Rodriguez entered in the top of the ninth with the Revs still leading by one, his second save opportunity of the season. He was greeted rudely by the Patriots however, as DH Josh Pressley led off with a single to right. He was pinch run for by defending Atlantic League stolen base champ Wayne Lydon, the starting Somerset centerfielder who had the night off. Lydon scored from second after advancing on an errant pickoff throw at first from Rodriguez, trotting home on a RF Michael Hernandez RBI double to left-center that tied the game 3-3. After an intentional walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, Rodriguez preserved the tie with a highlight-reel play on a weak grounder up the first base line off the bat of C J.R. Hopf, as he grabbed it and forced out Hernandez who was at third with a throw home for a fielder's choice, keeping the bases loaded. Rodriguez then struck out Holden swinging at the top of the order, stranding the bases loaded as the Revs came to bat in the bottom the ninth with the score still 3-3.
A two-out single up the middle by Liu Rodriguez would be stranded in the bottom of the ninth however, as the 3,281 fans in attendance were treated to some bonus baseball at "The Vault."
RHP Travis Minix returned in the 10th for his third inning of work, but surrendered the leadoff solo blast over the Arch Nemesis in left to DH Jason Botts that set off yet another wild celebration for the Revs at home plate in a homestand filled with excitement and drama from beginning to end. It was a remarkable homer for Botts, who as a switch hitter was batting left-handed against the right-hander Minix, but still managed to muscle the ball to the opposite field over the 38-plus foot, Fenway-like wall for the win. Botts' second round-tripper of the season was also his fifth RBI. The 4-3 victory sent lefty Jeremy Lewis (2-0) to his second win in as many days, as he tossed a perfect 1-2-3 10th with a strikeout to preserve the tie. Minix dropped to 0-1.
Thursday marked just the second time the Revs have won four consecutive one-run games, as they started the second half of the 2009 campaign 4-0 in such fashion.
The Revolution will now head to South Jersey for a unique three-game series against the Camden Riversharks beginning Friday morning. It will be a day-night double-header at Campbell's Field, with game one at 11:05 a.m., and the night cap beginning at 7:05 p.m. The final game of the series will be Saturday evening at 5:35 p.m., before the Revs enjoy a very rare three off days before heading to Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Atlantic League Stories from May 5, 2011
- Botts Extends Revolution Win Streak To Five With 10th Inning Homer - York Revolution
- 'Fish Sunk by Road Warriors - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Everidge Blast Carries Lancaster - Lancaster Stormers
- Patriots Fall to Revs in Walk-Off Again - Somerset Patriots
- Somerset Patriots Pitcher Brian Sweeney Signed by New York Mets - Somerset Patriots
- Freedom Fest 2011 Concert Announced - Long Island Ducks
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