York Rebounds and Crushes Camden

By Corey Righter on August 22, 2008

York, PA – Almost immediately, the Revolution forgot about the 16-2 blowout at Southern Maryland the day before. Wasting no time York pulled together a string of hits leading to a five run second inning en route to an easy 10-2 win.

Camden came into the game with a 5-1 record in their last six, but defense became the sore thumb in Thursday night’s game. Former major league shortstop Damian Jackson made all four errors in crucial situations.

With no outs in the second, Jose Enrique Cruz hit a grounder to Jackson making an error on the play, allowing a run to score. Keoni De Renne immediately follows with a laser to right centerfield scoring two with a double on the play.

Cruz was in a minor slump going 2-for-23 in his last eight games. He went 3-for-5 with four RBI on the night. “Even though we lost big yesterday I felt that it was a move in the right direction just as tonight was, the team is playing well and we can feel the playoffs coming,” said Cruz.

The Revolution would eventually bat through the lineup ending with Matt Padgett who began the inning. Prior to the game manager Chris Hoiles made a lineup change by switching outfielder Kennard Jones to the two spot and De Renne to the leadoff.

“Both Jones and De Renne have been swinging the bat well and it gives the team lots of options,” said Hoiles.

York starting pitcher Wayne Franklin, former major leaguer, pitched great by going 6 2/3 innings giving up two runs on four walks and four strikes in the win. The win marked his third since returning to the Revolution July 1 from playing for Tijuana in the Mexican League .

“I felt good tonight, and the team is starting to get the itch, championships are championships,” commented Franklin. With the win on Thursday, Franklin is now 8-5 on the season.

Camden’s starter Kevin Mannix, unlike Franklin, struggled and was pulled after going 2 1/3 innings allowing seven runs, three earned on seven hits. His replacement did not make a difference as reliever Jeremy Lewis was charged with three runs in 1 2/3 inning striking out three walking two.

The Riversharks struggled to finish the job, leaving fourteen runners stranded while York hit the ball well consistently leaving just seven. Camden’s one through five hitters combined went 10 for 22 while the bottom four hitters went 1-for-16.

Camden outfielder Nic Jackson slammed his 14th homerun of the year in the third inning and finished the night 3-for-5 adding a double.

York set a new team record with their eighth straight home win. The win increases their first place lead to 3 ½ games in the Freedom Division. York improves to 23-17 and Camden continues to struggle and falls to 15-2.

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