WILLIAMSPORT, P.A. (July 21, 2009) - For the second night in a row a Renegades home run would not be enough as they fell to the Williamsport Crosscutters, 2-1, Tuesday night at historic Bowman Field.
The loss gave Williamsport the lead in the New York-Penn League wild card race with the Renegades a half game behind. The loss is the Renegades second one-run loss, in as many days, and brings the Renegades record in one-run games to 11-2 on the season.
Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision despite putting together great outings. In his first start, in the Renegades official rotation, Kevin Chavez hurled a season-high six innings and gave up one run on just four hits. The Crosscutters starter Siuliman Lebron matched Chavez pitch for pitch as he recorded seven innings of four-hit, one-run baseball.
For the second night in a row the Renegades lumber sent a ball flying out of Bowman Field. Tonight the fireworks came courtesy of shortstop Tyler Bortnick. The home run is Bortnick's fourth long ball in his last 10 games and ties him with Eli Sonoqui for the team lead in home runs, with four.
Williamsport cracked the scoreboard first manufacturing a run in the home half of the third. Crosscutters Adam Buschini slowly worked his way to third as he stole second and advanced to third on a Carl Uhl single. Leandro Castro plated Buschini from third on a sacrifice fly which brought the score to 1-0.
The Renegades struck back quickly as they knotted the game up in the top of the fourth. With one out, Bortnick sent a Lebron offering deep over the left field fence. Bortnick's home run was the Renegades 12th home run of the season.
The Crosscutters took back the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on first and second, and one out, Doug Salinas replaced Aaron Dott on the mound. Salinas was able to get Jeremy Barnes to ground to Bortnick at short who recorded the second out at home. After a passed ball advanced runners to second and third Salinas gave up a single, which brought the score to its final, 2-1.
The Renegades take on the Crosscutters for the finale of the three-game series Wednesday night at historic Bowman Field. The Crosscutters will be sending righty Jonathan Pettibone (1-3, 5.67) to the mound and the Renegades will give the ball to right-handed Kyle Ayers (3-1, 2.82). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern Professional Hockey League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.