NYPL Hudson Valley Renegades

Loera Shines against Connecticut

Published on September 2, 2013 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release


WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY (September 2, 2013) - Just one day after their playoff hopes were crushed by Staten Island, the Renegades got an inspired performance from lefthanded pitcher Derek Loera. In his fourth start of the year, the Rays 28th round draft pick was dominant across six innings in a 4-0 shutout against the Connecticut Tigers. The early run support was backed by three scoreless innings of relief from newcomer Isaac Gil, who closed the game for a save in his Renegades debut.

Loera's worst inning was his first when he allowed an infield single to Kasey Coffman and a Ben Verlander chopper to second that was mishandled by Julian Morillo for an error. With runners at first and second, the Odessa, Texas native struck out Jesus Ustariz and Brett Harrison to set the tone for the remainder of the evening.

Ariel Soriano led off the home first with a single and stole second against Tigers starter Austin Pritcher. He quickly moved to third on an excellent sacrifice bunt by Darryl George, but Ty Young and Omar Narvaez couldn't get the ball out of the infield and the game remained scoreless after the first. In the third, the Renegades loaded the bases with one out after singles by Morillo and George, and an error by Tigers second baseman Steven Negron. The catcher Duncan McAlpine couldn't snag a Pritcher curveball, and the passed ball allowed Morillo to score the game's first run. With two outs, Narvaez rolled a two run single into center to put the 'Gades ahead 3-0.

James Harris opened the fourth inning with a double down the left field line and moved to third on another error by Negron on a grounder off the bat of John Alexander. Morillo struck out before Ben Kline grounded into a force out at second base that scored Harris and made it 4-0. It was all the run support Loera needed and he shut the Tigers down over his final five innings before being lifted for Gil in the seventh.

The nerves were there early for the Bronx native Gil, who hit Ustariz with a 3-0 fastball before allowing a one out single to McAlpine. Javier Azcona sent a groundball to third base where Young stepped on the bag before throwing to first to complete the inning-ending double play. Gil got another double play in the eighth following a leadoff single by Tyler Gibson, and almost lost the shutout after Ustariz lined a two out triple down the right field line in the ninth. Gil's first evening with the Renegades ended when he struck out Harrison looking to take the first game of the series.

NOTES: Loera's (3-1) nine strikeouts set a new high for Renegades pitchers this season...three others (Jaime Schultz, Jordan Harrison, and Chris Kirsch) had struck out eight batters in a single game...Hudson Valley loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh but could not score...Gil had four saves in 18 relief appearances for the Princeton Rays in the Appalachian League before being called up...Soriano, Harris, and Morillo each finished 2-for-4...Narvaez was 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position and two outs before his two-run single in the third.

The series continues Tuesday night in the middle game of three at a special start time of 6:35 PM. Jaime Schultz (1-2, 3.05 ERA) will make his final start in 2013 against Alex Phillips (4-3, 3.46 ERA). There are only two games left at The Dutch this season and great seats are still available, so call 845-838-0094 or visit www.hvrenegades.com to purchase your tickets now.

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