York Revolution: July 2007 Archives

By JEFF DEWEES

The York Revolution welcome an old friend back with the return of right-handed pitcher Wayne Franklin to the team, after a short-lived stint in Taiwanese baseball.

Franklin rejoined the ballclub this past weekend in Long Island. He is scheduled to start Wednesday night’s game at Sovereign Bank Stadium against the Camden Riversharks.

An original Rev and a former major leaguer, Franklin last pitched for the team May 15 before accepting an offer to pitch in Taiwan.

The game ended with the Lancaster Barnstormers screaming and manager Rick Wise running to pull third baseman Felix Martinez away from home plate umpire Jesse Redwine.

And, oh yeah, did we mention the Barnstormers won the game?

Lancaster snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-5 win against the York Revolution in front of 3,757 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium Friday.

And the Revs proved, even in a loss, they can make things interesting.

The Barnstormers are inventing ways to end innings.

Here's one play you may never see again.

In the top of the first, Lancaster's Jutt Hileman singled with two outs. Dominic Ambrosini came to the plate and hit a line drive off the outstretched glove of center fielder Justin Singleton.

The ball drops to the ground, Hileman crosses the plate and Ambrosini stops at second base.

One big problem. Ambrosini never touched first.

The Revs appealed to first and Ambrosini was called out. And because Ambrosini never reached first the force out ends the inning and the run never counts. The score remains 0-0, and Ambrosini is not credited with a hit.

"I've seen a lot of firsts this year in this league," York manager Chris Hoiles said.

The York Revolution's biggest weakness may no longer be a concern.

Revs opening day starter Wayne Franklin is expected to return to the club this weekend, and could be activated as early as Sunday, according to Revs director of baseball operations Adam Gladstone.

The Revs have also expressed an interest in bringing back left-hander Steve Smyth, who left the Revs June 30 to pitch in the Mexican League. Smyth has gone 0-2 with a 1.08 ERA and one save for Aguascalientes since leaving York.

The Pittsburgh Pirates purchased the contract for York Revolution center fielder Peter Bergeron Thursday, and he has been assigned by the Pirates to Altoona (Double-A).

Bergeron learned he had been signed when he reported to Sovereign Bank Stadium. The first player signed by the Revs, Bergeron solidified the No. 2 spot in the batting order with a .273 average. He also provided the Revs with solid defense in center.

The signing marked the second time Bergeron has earned an affiliated contract by playing in the Atlantic League. The Baltimore Orioles signed Bergeron and assigned him to Bowie (Double-A) after he played 10 games for the Nashua Pride in 2005.

The York Revolution and Lancaster Barnstormers resume their Route 30 series tonight. Each team has won six games in the season series.

But surprise, York holds a two-game lead in the Atlantic League South. Somerset remains in second place, and the Barnstormers are tied with the Camden Riversharks for last place -- six games back.

Red Lion grad will play his first game against his old team, and looks for his first hit (0-for-12 with Lancaster) since rejoining the Barnstormers earlier this month.

Wednesday's starters
York LHP Chris Steinborn (5-8, 6.17 ERA)
Lancaster RHP Josh Stevens (7-3, 3.75)

York Revolution right-hander Frank Castillo took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Road Warriors Tuesday night.

The Road Warriors Gabe Suarez lined a base hit to right field to break up the no-hitter.

The Revs clinched an 8-1 victory.

Castillo flirted with a no-hitter earlier this season, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning against the Somerset Patriots on June 23. The Revs won the game 1-0 in 13 innings.

The Revolution acquired RHP Enmanuel Ulloa (3-5, 4.80 ERA) today from the Road Warriors.

During his stay with the league's all-travel squad, he beat one of the league's first-half division winners (Newark) and also two quality teams in Bridgeport and Somerset.

He will move into the Revs starting rotation.

"That's our plan right now," Revs manager Chris Hoiles said. "But we don't know who (he'll replace) yet."

In the last seven days York has cut pitchers Charlie Hesseltine and Matt Hirsh -- the Revs two youngest players. Both players are 22.

RHP Hirsh (1-8, 8.05 ERA) was released Monday.

LHP Hesseltine (1-8, 8.22) was placed on the inactive list last Friday, but told Revs director of baseball operations Adam Gladstone that he will report to the Road Warriors, possibly as early as today.

Hirsh's future is not as clear. Not placed with another club in the league, he could still earn a shot pitching in the independent Northern League, American Association or Can-Am League. All three league's attempt to bring in younger players, and limit the number of veterans on the roster.

The recent moves underline how difficult the league is on pitchers.

Felix Jose made his first appearance in a Lancaster Barnstormers uniform Saturday night, flying out in his first three at-bats. The former major league all-star has not played in the United States since he suited up for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2003.

It appears he still has some pop to his bat, but just not enough to clear the 15-foot tall chain-link fence in center at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Dead center at the park is located 405 feet from home plate.

Jose flied out to the warning track in the first inning, flied out to center in the third and flied out to the warning-track in right-center in the fifth. He singled up the middle in the seventh.

Revs sign left-handed reliever
York continued to update its pitching staff. Still recovering from the losses of Steve Smyth (signed by Mexican League) and Dave Gil (injury), the Revs signed left-handed reliever Victor Kleine.

Barnstormers get experience, old pros
The Lancaster Barnstormers made a splash to start the second half, signing former major leaguers Felix Jose and Chris Brock.

Somerset designated hitter Josh Pressley will replace injured Revolution DH Matt Dryer at the Atlantic League All-Star Game. Dryer cracked a rib while sliding into first base to avoid a tag on June 30. He has not played since the injury. He will dress but not play for the South squad.

Dryer is batting .281 with eight homers for the Revs.

Pressley is batting .263 with eight homers for the Patriots.

One other big name expected to appear is Bridgeport's Junior Spivey. Absent from the Bluefish's recent series in York, Spivey has told league representatives he will play in the game. Spivey has left the Bluefish to tend to an ailing family member. He left the team only after receving permission from manager Tommy John.

But some big names won't be present.

The Atlantic League All-Star Game will draw a near-record crowd at Lancaster's Clipper Magazine Stadium. The Barnstormers have already sold out all 6,000-plus seats at the Clip, but the team expects to sell more standing-room only tickets for the lawn area beyond the left and center field walls.

Lancaster set the single-game league attendance record at the Barnstormers season opener earlier this year, drawing 8,092 fans.

The gates open at 5:30 p.m.

The league's home run derby is scheduled to start at approximately 6:10 p.m. with three players from each division participating in the two-round event.

The North's Javier Colina (Newark); Vito Chiaravolloti (Road Warriors); and Ray Navarrete (Long Island) will compete alongside the South's Jeremy Todd (Lancaster); L.J. Biernbaum (Camden); and Mike Lockwood (Somerset).

The full rosters for Wednesday's Atlantic League all-star game in Lancaster have been unveiled.

Four members of the York Revolution have been named to the game.

The full rosters:

The Revs acquired two players Tuesday, signing RHP Bryan Edwards and outfielder Jason Aspito.

Edwards has already pitched for two Atlantic League clubs this season with mixed results. In two outings with Camden he was hit hard. Included in that mix was a start against York. Edwards failed to reach the fourth inning. Bridgeport released him Monday.

Aspito comes to the Revs from the short-season indepdendent Northern League. Revs director of baseball operations Adam Gladstone checked with former players he had signed who were current teammates of Aspito. The outfielder is highly regarded by teammates. He hit a combined 17 home runs last season in Double- and Triple-A organizations.

In 39 games with Edmonton he hit 10 extra-base hits, including three homers. He's hitting .252.

Former major league pitcher Steve Smyth (1-1, 6.63 ERA) left the Revolution prior to Sunday's game against Newark to return to the Mexican League.

Smyth told the team he hopes to return to the Revs later this summer when the Mexican League season ends. Smyth pitched for Laguna of the Mexican League earlier this year.

Smyth helped solidify the Revs pitching staff in June, providing the team with a steady arm after York lost Ryan Baerlocher to the Atlanta Braves' organization and Matt Ford suffered an injury.