LANCASTER -- It looked like a midseason game. Two teams scuffling during the dead time of a long season.

Somerset has clinched the Freedom Division title, leaving York and Lancaster to finish out a meaningless first half. And it didn't help that York returned at 3:30 a.m from a three-game road trip in Long Island.

Both teams struggled to manufacture runs, but the Lancaster Barnstormers scored late in the game against York's bullpen. The Barnstormers pushed across two runs in the seventh inning to secure a 3-1 victory against the Revolution in front of 4,894 fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Owning a 6-1 advantage in the season series, the Barnstormers (30-33) can clinch the rivalry trophy, the Community Cup, with four more victories against the Revs (21-43).

Lancaster tied the game in the sixth when Gerard Haran walked. Aaron Herr hit a double against the left-field fence, and Bryan Sabatella knocked in the tying run with a single. But York reliever Jason Olson worked out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout to end the threat.

The Revs turned to Travis Phelps (0-3) in the seventh, but Barnstormers second baseman David Housel earned another leadoff walk. Then, Herr smashed another double against the left-field fence to plate the go-ahead run.

"They just looked a little tired tonight," York manager Chris Hoiles said. "We had some chances, they just looked a little worn out tonight.

"We tried to go to the bullpen and leadoff

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walks really kill you in a close game. We've just got to find a way to prevent runs from being scored from the sixth through the ninth. It seems like right now late in the game when the games are on the line we're giving up that one or two runs at the end of the game when we need to shut the door."

The Revs made it look easy in the first inning by playing smart baseball. Keoni DeRenne reached on a single, and P.J. Rose slapped a slow roller to the right side of the infield to advance the runner. DeRenne scored when the next batter, Tom Collaro, drilled a single to center field.

DeRenne grimaced as he crossed home plate, slowed by a tight hamstring he injured before the All-Star game. York didn't score again, recording five hits in the final eight innings.

Despite the loss and the low energy, York continues to look completely rebuilt.

"I think there is a change," Revs third baseman Matt Padgett said. "There has been a lot of movement, guys in and out, and while it might feel like a relaxed league it's also a place where you need to perform."

And one of the keys may have been the acquisition of Rose, in his 21st season of pro ball.

"I think that what he possesses is very positive," Hoiles said. "We've been saying different things all years, but when it comes from a player it's something totally different. He has the experience these guys will listen to."

Notes: York signed former Braves center-field prospect Carl Loadenthal, 27, before the game and penciled him in as the No. 9 hitter.

He reached on an infield single in his second at-bat in the fourth inning, and he threw out Michael Campbell at the plate in the fifth inning. Campbell attempted to score from second on a single by Lloyd Turner. Loadenthal's throw hit the grass in front of the plate, but he easily gunned down Campbell.

"This seemed like the perfect time to bring (Loadenthal) in," Revs head of baseball operations Adam Gladstone said. "It gives him a week to get ready for the second half."

Picked up by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft this winter, Loadenthal played for Double-A Binghamton. He batted .239 in 59 games before being released in late June.

"My numbers are not where they have been, but it's also only been a couple months," Loadenthal said.

Known by a couple players on the team, Loadenthal played alongside Matt Esquivel in the Braves farm system in 2005 and '07.

"He's a fast outfielder who can take a lot of bags," Esquivel said.

Esquivel is the current team leader with 13 stolen bases, but Loadenthal once swiped 40 bases for the Double-A Mississippi Braves. He spent last season at Triple-A Richmond, batting .278 with 19 stolen bases in 68 games. The Revs need an everyday center fielder since Kennard Jones aggravated a hamstring injury last weekend. York has started Ryan Goleski in center, but the former Indians prospect is hitting .215. Jones is listed as day-to-day, but is receiving treatment for the hamstring.

In order to make room for Loadenthal, the Revs released infielder George Sandel. In his second stint with the Revs this season, Sandel had more errors (nine) than hits (seven).

The Revs now have six outfielders on their roster.

jseip@ydr.com; 771-2025