Aberdeen Edges Renegades, 5-4
Published on April 16, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release
WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. - The Aberdeen IronBirds skid past the Hudson Valley Renegades 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Heritage Financial Park.
Both sides stormed out of the gates with three runs in the first inning. Drew Thorpe walked Frederick Bencosme to open up the contest before a pickoff error by Thorpe allowed Bencosme to advance to second. He would later reach third on a passed ball and score on a wild pitch. The next batter, Max Wagner, would walk, and Adam Retzbach crushed a two-run home run to finish off a three-run top of the first.
Hudson Valley responded immediately with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Spencer Jones walked, stole second, and advanced to third base on a pickoff error by Kyle Virbitsky. With runners on second and Jones at third, Caleb Durbin laced a two-run single to left-center to cut the IronBirds lead to 3-2. Durbin then stole second and advanced to third on a Retzbach throwing error. Antonio Gómez brought in Durbin with a groundout to shortstop to tie the game at 3-3.
Both pitchers settled in until Aberdeen struck in the top of the fifth. Luis Valdez led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Gómez. Thorpe then uncorked a wild pitch to score Valdez and put the IronBirds back in front 4-3.
In his second professional start, Thorpe struck out seven batters in 5.0 innings, allowing four runs, three earned.
The Renegades rallied back in the sixth on an Aldenis Sánchez sacrifice fly. Gómez notched a one-out double, and reached third on a Spencer Henson single, setting the stage for Sánchez' sac fly to tie the game at 4-4.
For the second straight day, the game's decisive run came in the top of the ninth for Aberdeen. Ryan Higgins bunted his away aboard with a single, followed up by an Isaac Bellony single off Ryan Anderson (0-1). Back-to-back flyouts by Noelberth Romero and Luis Valdez scored Higgins to hand Aberdeen the 5-4 advantage.
Keagan Gillies (2-0) struck out the side in order in the ninth to win their second straight over Hudson Valley.
After an off day on Monday, Hudson Valley will travel to Rome, Georgia, to take on the Rome Braves on Tuesday night. RHP Chase Hampton (0-0, 0.00) gets the start for the Renegades, while the Braves have not announced a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Coverage begins on the Renegades Baseball Network at 5:45.
Renegades Record: 5-4
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