June 5-7

Friday night baseball at Santander Stadium in York, the Revolution hosted the Sugar Land Skeeters. As a rule I wouldn't take in a Friday game in York when they play at home on Sunday as well but this was another "oddball weekend" in the Atlantic League. The last time I saw the Skeeters was that rainy night in Lancaster in October of 2014 when the Barnstormers won the ALPB title on Gabe Jacobo's walk-off home run, ironically this game would end in eerily similar fashion. Sugar Land posted single runs in the second and sixth innings, in the seventh ex-Texas Ranger Brandon Boggs went yard for the Revs to make it 2-1. Andres Perez hit a two-out two-run bomb in the eighth to put York in front but the Skeeters tied it the ninth. In the bottom half new addition Nick Ferdinand (just signed from the Phillies organization) nailed one over the Arch Nemesis in left field to give the Revs the 4-3 win. The eerie irony of it all is that the same pitcher who surrendered the now-retired Jacobo's home run in Lancaster was Ferdinand's victim on this night in York (the only thing missing was the rain). Anthony Lerew started for the Revs, Josh Judy worked the ninth inning and lost the save opportunity but picked up the win. Saturday was quiet except for a morning errand run, that was by design because Sunday was going to be busy. Every year I try to get Jenny and her mother to one game in York, it's always a Sunday when the Barnstormers are the opponent. We had a late lunch on the way to the ballpark for the 5:00 game, the Revolution wore special jerseys for a cancer-awareness fundraiser. In many ways this game was a battle of attrition, both clubs have struggled recently but under differing circumstances. The Revs entered with a record of 5-16 at Santander Stadium while the Stormers are just 4-18 on the road. York took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Nick Ferdinand reached on an error and scored on a single by Luis De La Cruz, in the sixth Ferdinand homered to extend the lead to two. In the eighth Andres Perez doubled and scored on Ferdinand's single to bring the final score to 3-0. Rev starter Rommie Lewis went the distance on the five-hit shutout, Dan Osterbrock started for the Stormers and deserved a better fate. The series continues for three more days, the Barnstormers return home for a weekend set with Somerset. The next Santander Sunday in York is on the 28th against Bridgeport. Take care, thanks for reading.