Revs’ wrap up first half, just in time to heal injuries

Posted by John Walk on July 9, 2012 in Brandon Haveman, James Shanks, R.J. Rodriguez, Ramon Castro, Ricardo Gomez, Roster, York Revolution

OF James Shanks (above) missed Sunday's game after injuring his left hamstring against Camden on Saturday.

The Revs dropped a 4-1 decision to the Camden Riversharks in front of 2,762 fans at Sovereign Bank Stadium on a muggy Sunday evening. It marked the final game of the first half for York (36-34), who officially finished in second place in the Atlantic League Freedom Division behind Lancaster (45-25) by nine games.

(To check out the full game story, click here).

And chatting with Revs’ skipper Andy Etchebarren after the loss, things don’t sound good on the health front for York. Outfielder James Shanks and third baseman Ramon Castro were out of the lineup on Sunday. Shanks, who has been battling tendonitis in his left knee all season, tweaked his hamstring at Camden on Saturday. Etchebarren said Castro is dealing with a health issue, too, but didn’t disclose further details. And he said the pair could be out of action when York begins the second half on Friday at home with the first of a three-game set against Lancaster.

“If you got to start the second half against Lancaster without those two guys, then you’re hurting a little bit. Do I gotta bring somebody else in? Probably,” Etchebarren said.

Outfielder Brandon Haveman will also miss time at start the second half. Haveman’s wife, Sarah, was recently named the new head women’s cross country and assistant track coach at Dayton (Ohio) University. Brandon Haveman said he needs to help his wife move from their old home in Indiana to their new home near Dayton. He still plans on playing in the 2012 Atlantic League All-Star game on Wednesday, but he’ll be out a total of six games for the Revs to start the second half, returning on July 19.

It’s unclear if Shanks or Castro will play in the All-Star game.

York’s poor start to the first half of the season (they began 3-10 and 8-16) made it even more difficult to catch Lancaster in the Atlantic League Freedom Division. And it sounds like the second half could off to a bumpy start as well.

Castro (.298 batting average, league-leading 50 RBIs), Shanks (.255, eight homers, 35 RBIs), and Haveman (.319, 31 runs, eight stolen bases) are three of York’s top hitters. Etchebarren said he might make a roster move in the coming days to make up for the possible absence of the three position players. He is also looking to improve the starting rotation.

“We got to try to improve the starting pitching somehow,” he said. “As for right now there’s nobody out there. Hopefully we can survive the first couple of weeks of the second half and we’ll have some pitchers the first week of August.”

Gomez named closer: On a lighter note, Etch’ said righty reliever Ricardo Gomez is officially the team’s closer. With a scoreless ninth inning on Sunday, Gomez has gone 13 scoreless innings in his last 12 games since returning from the disabled list on June 8.

“And he’s the closer when R.J. comes back, too,” said Etch’, referring to reliever R.J. Rodriguez, who had a 2.36 ERA and 11 saves when he was picked up on June 25 by Campeche (Mexican League). Rodriguez will likely return to York when the Mexican League wraps up its season in August.

“When R.J. left and went to Mexico, this guy (Gomez) has done a good job,” Etch’ said.