HVR Game Notes - August 2, 2023
August 2, 2023 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release
Hudson Valley Renegades (54-43, 15-16) at Wilmington Blue Rocks (41-54, 12-19)
RHP Baron Stuart (First Start) vs. RHP Brad Lord (1-1, 9.45 ERA)
| Game 98 | Road Game 50 | Frawley Stadium | Wilmington, Del. | Aug. 2, 2023 | First Pitch 6:35 p.m. |
HELLO MR. CELERY:The Hudson Valley Renegades continue their 12-game road trip with a six-game series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks this week. It's the second visit to Frawley Stadium this season for Hudson Valley who took four out of six games from them back in May. The 'Gades will make one more trip to Delaware this season at the end of August.
SIMPLY SOUTHERN:In 18 games in SAL South ballparks this year, the Renegades are averaging 8.00 runs/game. In their other 79 games, they are averaging just 4.43 R/G. Incredibly, Hudson Valley has hit 43 of their 104 home runs this season (41.3%) during their trips south, representing 17.0% of games played.
SPENCE HENCE POWER:After a two home run performance in Hickory on Sunday, Spencer Henson is now tied with Everson Pereira for the most home runs in franchise history. Henson clubbed 10 home runs last year and is currently leading the 'Gades this season with 13 blasts. The Renegades infielder is also riding an eight-game hitting streak entering Wednesday, after finishing Sunday afternoon 4-for-4 with four RBIs.
LAST TIME OUT: The Hudson Valley Renegades dropped the series opener 8-4 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Tuesday night. Brendan Beck allowed just a hit and a walk in 4.0 scoreless innings. The 'Gades plated runs in the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead before the Blue Rocks scored the next eight runs in the middle innings. Eduardo Torrealba singled home a run in the ninth but they fell just short in the end.
ROSTER MOVES:The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday the promotion of Baron Stuart from Single-A Tampa. In his four starts in the month of July, the right-hander struck out 18 in 24.1 innings and sported a 1.48 ERA. In other news, Juan Carela was traded to the Chicago White Sox for reliever Keynan Middleton on Tuesday just before the trade deadline.
GETTING HOT:Over the course of the last eight games, Christopher Familia is hitting .379/.486/.828 with one double, four home runs, nine RBIs, five walks, and seven runs. He's collected a hit in nine of the last 12 games.
PAVING THE WAY:Since June 1st, the Hudson Valley Renegades pitching staff owns the second-best ERA with 3.08 ERA in this span. Hudson Valley pitching has also punched out a High-A best 542 batters in 433.0 innings during this span. The Somerset Patriots (NYY--AA) sit fifth with a 3.32 ERA.
ANOTHER ONE:On Tuesday, Luis Velasquez was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 24 - 30. The right-hander had a dominant week out of the bullpen, tossing 5.2 scoreless frames across two games versus the Hickory Crawdads. He earned the win in both of the Renegades' shutout victories and he punched out an impressive 47.1% of batters faced last week. Velasquez earned the Renegades sixth weekly award of the season joining pitchers Juan Carela, Drew Thorpe, and Tyrone Yulie. Outfielder Aaron Palensky has won the lone offensive weekly honor this season.
WIDE MARGINS:In the last series against the Hickory Crawdads, the Renegades outscored the Crawdads 51-21 (+30). Hudson Valley shut out the Texas Rangers High-A affiliate twice in the series, including a 6-0 victory on Sunday.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Since his promotion from Single-A Tampa on June 29th, Agustin Ramírez is 38-for-95 (.400) with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 18 RBIs, seven walks, and 19 runs in 23 games. He recorded a hit and reached base safely in his first six games while also already collecting 12 multi-contests in his brief time in High-A. Since June 29th, he ranks seventh in total bases among all qualified Minor Leaguers.
THE K-ZONE:The Hudson Valley Renegades pitching staff has been dominant all season long at getting swings-and-misses and they have been rewarded for it. The 'Gades currently own the second-highest strikeout total in all of Minor League Baseball. The Chattanooga Lookouts (CIN--AA) have struck out 1078 batters compared to 1074 for Hudson Valley this year. The Renegades tied their season-high with 19 strikeouts against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on July 2nd. The mark also tied their franchise record, which they recorded earlier this season on April 23rd versus the Rome Braves.
HE GETS ON BASE!: Ben Cowles currently holds the Renegades longest active on-base streak at 19 games. The former Maryland Terrapin has reached base in every game since July 4 in Jersey Shore. He surpassed Rafael Flores who held the longest on-base streak by a Renegade hitter prior at 18 games. It's currently the longest streak in the South Atlantic Leauge, and tied for the fifth-longest in High-A.
HOME RUN BUG:After hitting 11 home runs in their first nine games out of the All-Star break, the Renegades hit 19 in six games versus the Hickory Crawdads. The team's 30 home runs since the All-Star Break are the most in High-A and are tied for the highest mark in all of Minor League Baseball. The Syracuse Mets (NYM--AAA) and Sacramento River Cats (SF--AAA) are currently tied with Hudson Valley.
RUNS, RUNS, RUNS:The Hudson Valley Renegades tied their season-high run total in last Tuesday's 16-5 victory over the Hickory Crawdads. They previously scored 16 runs back on April 26 against the Greenville Drive. The 16 runs was also their highest offensive outburst since a 15-2 win at Greenville on April 30.
INTO THE TOP 100:Baseball America released its in-season Top 100 Prospects list update on July 14, and the Yankees claimed six players on the list. 2023 Renegades Chase Hampton (#60) and Spencer Jones (#98) entered the list for the first time. They were joined by former Renegades Oswald Peraza (#56), Jasson Domínguez (#71), Austin Wells (#86) and Everson Pereira (#96).
South Atlantic League Stories from August 2, 2023
- Gonzalez's Walk-off Swinging Bunt Gives Drive 6-5 Victory in 10th - Greenville Drive
- Gladney Walks off a Pitchers' Duel, 3-2 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Baker Logs 10th Homer of the Season, Hot Rods Lose 3-2 in Walk-Off - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Blue Rocks Fall to Renegades 3-0 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Stuart Spearheads Shutout Effort - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Reimer, Ventura Vex BlueClaws in 5-3 Cyclones Win - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Ullola Fans Career-High 11; Tourists Lose by One - Asheville Tourists
- Rincones Homers, BlueClaws Fall 5-3 to Brooklyn - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Grasshoppers Take Down Tourists, 4-3 in Wednesday Day Game - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- HVR Game Notes - August 2, 2023 - Hudson Valley Renegades
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