SAL Hudson Valley Renegades

HVR Game Notes - May 4, 2023

Published on May 4, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release


Hudson Valley Renegades (15-8) vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (11-10)

RHP Tyrone Yulie (1-1, 7.61 ERA) vs. LHP Andry Lara (0-2, 5.40 ERA)

| Game 24 | Home Game 12 | Heritage Financial Park | Wappingers Falls, N.Y. | May 4, 2023 | First Pitch 6:05 p.m. |

FRIENDS OF MR. CELERY: The Hudson Valley Renegades battle the Wilmington Blue Rocks for the third of 30 contests between the two teams this season. The Blue Rocks are the most-frequent opponent of the season for the Renegades. The clubs will play two series at Heritage Financial Park and three at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington.

LAST TIME OUT: Hudson Valley scored six of their nine runs in the seventh inning on Wednesday night to down the Wilmington Blue Rocks 9-4. Four Renegades hitters recorded multi-hit games, with Caleb Durbin leading the way with three hits. Durbin and Spencer Jones amassed a pair of doubles, while Aldenis Sánchez recorded two triples in the win.

IT'S GONNA BE MAY: With a 14-7 (.667) record in April, the Renegades wrapped up their best calendar month since June 2021 (19-7, .730). The Hudson Valley offense led the way by clobbering 34 home runs in the month, the most in a month since hitting 35 in 27 games in June 2022. The 34 home runs are more than Hudson Valley hit during the 17 entire seasons during their run as a New York-Penn League team ('94, '95, '97, '00, '03, '04, '08-'17, and '19).

DOUBLE TRIPLE AGAIN: With two triples on Wednesday vs Wilmington, Aldenis Sánchez tied the franchise record for most triples in a game and became the second Renegade hitter to accomplish that feat this season. On April 25th in Greenville, Spencer Jones notched two triples in a four-hit night. The last time it was achieved was Aug. 6, 2018, by Ford Proctor against Brooklyn.

HIT THE ROAD JACK: With a win Sunday against the Greenville Drive, the Renegades secured back-to-back series win as a part of their 12-game road trip through the South. Last season, the 'Gades won back-to-back road series twice. They defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds and Greensboro Grasshoppers in June before completing a sweep of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and a series victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones in August.

MAN ON FIRE: Over the past seven games, Aaron Palensky is 14-for-28 and slashing .500/.576/1.214 with two doubles, six home runs, 13 RBIs, and four stolen bases. He is currently tied for first in HR (7), SLG (.900), and OPS (1.375), second in average (.380), third in RBI (20), tied for third in XBH (11), and fourth in TB (45) and OBP (.475).

FORE RIGHT: With a sixth-inning home run on Sunday in Greenville, Aaron Palensky homered for the fourth straight game. He became just the fourth Renegade since 2005 to do so, joining Oswald Peraza (May 12-15), Jake Sanford (July 16-21, 2021) and Chad Bell (July 15-20, 2021). The streak was snapped on Tuesday vs Wilmington.

HEATING UP: Alexander Vargas ranks as one of five Renegades hitters who are hitting over .300 in their last five games. Over this stretch, Vargas is hitting .400/.455/.850 with three doubles, two home runs, and three RBIs. The 'Gades infielder has tallied an extra-base hit four straight games as well.

RECORD SETTERS: During their 12-game road trip, the Renegades tied or broke six single-game franchise records. The marks for most team strikeouts (pitching) in a 9-inning game (19) and walks (batting) in a 9-inning game (14), and individual marks for walks (Ben Rice, 4),triples (Spencer Jones, 2), and RBIs (Aaron Palensky, 7) have all been matched. Dubiously, Juan Carela's 12 hits allowed at Greenville on Saturday are also a club record.

ALL ABOUT THE RUN DIFFERENTIAL: With a +58 run differential in 23 games, the Renegades own the second best run differential among all minor league teams in Double-A or below (Triple-A began a week early in 2023). Lake Elsinore (SD, A) sport a +59 differential and are the lone team in front of the 'Gades. The Renegades have five games this season, where they have won by seven or more runs.

WALK THAT WAY: After working a walk in six straight games, Ben Rice was held without one in the Renegades double header on Friday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Rice worked four walks in each contest, tying a Renegades team record for most walks in a game, with eight others. Eight walks in a two-game span set a new club record. Rice owns an outstanding 26.5% walk rate this season, which is eighth among all minor leaguers with enough PA to qualify. His 18 walks also lead the team.

BENNY AND THE JETS: Ben Rice is off to stellar start at the plate this season. The Dartmouth grad currently ranks first in OBP (.559), tied for first in HBP (5), tied for third in BB (18), 3rd in OPS (1.082), and seventh in AVG (.341) in the South Atlantic League. His (.559) on-base percentage is second among all qualified players in MiLB this season, only trailing Phillip Evans (Reno, AAA).

GAS STATION: Through 23 games this season the Renegades pitching staff has registered 265 strikeouts, the most in the SAL, all High-A teams, and seventh-most among all non-Triple-A teams in the minor leagues. On Tuesday vs Wilmington, the 'Gades bullpen racked up 12 strikeouts in six innings. Jack Neely and Bailey Dees combined to strike out seven in a row at one point.

MR. STEAL YOUR BASE: After going 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts in the first two games of the Greenville series, the Renegades are now 52-for-58 in stolen base attempts this season. They rank first in the South Atlantic League and High-A in steals and 4th in all of MiLB. The Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE, A) lead the way with 73 through 23 games. Caleb Durbin leads the team with 14 steals so far, the most in the South Atlantic League.

Check out the Hudson Valley Renegades Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 4, 2023


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