Font ResizeLANCASTER -- With the Somerset Patriots having recently clinched the Freedom Division first-half title, it would be easy to call the remaining week of the half meaningless.
York Revolution manager Chris Hoiles sees it differently.
With a roster that has undergone some recent changes, Hoiles sees the remainder of the opening half as an opportunity for his team to build momentum heading into the second half.
And with brilliant performances like the one the Revs got Friday night from Corey Thurman in their 4-0 defeat of the Lancaster Barnstormers in front of 4,798 fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium, that momentum will be a lot easier to achieve.
"I don't think these games are meaningless at all," Hoiles said. "I think these games are important to get the confidence level up. The biggest thing to me is to get everyone healthy and keep everyone healthy. We have options right now, and it's a good thing."
Despite the victory, the Barnstormers still hold a commanding 6-2 season series lead over their Route 30 rivals.
Thurman and Lancaster starter Jason Scobie battled through five scoreless innings before York's bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning.
Newly acquired center fielder Carl Loadenthal led off the sixth with a single and quickly stole second during P.J. Rose's at-bat.
Rose was able to successfully advance Loadenthal to third with his ground out to Barnstormer second baseman David Housel. With Scobie having stifled York to that point, the Revs
Collaro cracked his bat on a slow roller to third baseman Lloyd Turner as Loadenthal charged toward the plate. Turner's throw home was well off target, allowing Loadenthal to score easily and Collaro to reach first safely.
"Not only do we have the guys to get on now, we can do other things to manufacture runs like we did with our first run tonight," said Hoiles.
Later, still with one out and the bases loaded, Matt Padgett grounded sharply to Housel, who had some initial trouble gathering the ball. Housel's delay gave Collaro enough time to score from third before Padgett was gunned down at first.
Josh Johnson looked to end the inning in the next at-bat when he grounded to Turner. But Turner's errant throw to first brought Bryan Sabatella off the bag, allowing Jason Aspito to score, completing the sixth inning scoring for York.
The Revs would tack on their final run in the top of seventh inning as Matt Rogelstad led off the frame by blasting a home run over the picnic area in right field.
Thurman's effort Friday night was exactly the type of effort that will translate into the second-half success York so desperately covets.
Arguably his best effort of the year, Thurman lasted a season-high seven scoreless innings. Entering play, Thurman had only seen the seventh inning on one other occasion this season back on June 1.
Lancaster was unable to get anything going, as they only reached second base twice and third only once the entire game.
Thurman's only real test came in the bottom of the second inning.
After Jed Morris and Aaron Herr led off the inning with back-to-back singles, Ryan Mulhern's sacrifice fly to center moved Morris to third.
Not allowing the situation to phase him, Thurman locked in and quickly struck out Michael Campbell before getting Sabatella to fly out to center and end the threat.
Thurman would face no more than five batters in any of his seven innings, scattering four hits, striking out a pair and walking a pair along the way.
"That's typical Corey. The last two years, he's been an all-star and a leader on this team," Hoiles said.
"He goes out and shows it every five days on the mound, and (Friday) was no different. He did a really good job keeping hitters off balance all night long, and it allowed us to score some runs. Tonight was probably the best outing he's had all year."
In a rare occurrence, York was able to pair an excellent starting performance with a superb effort from its bullpen. Daryl Harang and Bob Zimmermann threw scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth respectively, with each striking out two of three batters faced.
Offensively, the Revs were led by Collaro and Rogelstad. Collaro finished 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Rogelstad has similar numbers, going 1-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.
