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NYPL Hudson Valley Renegades

Renegades Use Stout Pitching to Take Big Series Opener

July 26, 2019 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release


ABERDEEN, MD - Hudson Valley's pitchers struck out 12 Aberdeen hitters and worked around a couple of tough situations as the Renegades defeated the Ironbirds 3-2 Friday evening at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium. The win allowed the Renegades and Brooklyn Cyclones to pull into a three-way tie with the Ironbirds for first place in the McNamara Division. Aberdeen also committed three errors, one of which led to the game-winning run, and left 12 men on base.

The Ironbirds drew first blood in the first as centerfielder Shayne Fontana doubled to right to start the inning. After a groundout moved him to third, Fontana came home on a two-out passed ball from Renegades catcher Jordyn Muffley to give Aberdeen a 1-0 lead.

Aberdeen had a chance to take control of the game when they loaded the bases in the fifth inning with nobody out. However, Hudson Valley reliever Shay Smiddy came into the game and got third baseman Toby Welk to strike out swinging, first baseman Andrew Daschbach to pop-up to second, and designated hitter Ian Evans to ground out to third to get the Renegades out of the inning unscathed.

Hudson Valley would make Aberdeen pay by putting three runs on the board in the sixth. Shortstop Greg Jones led off by tripling to center. After a walk to third baseman Nick Sogard put runners at the corners with no one out, Jones took off for the plate and stole home as the pitch was missed by Aberdeen catcher Maverick Handley, which allowed Sogard to take second. It was the third time this season the Renegades have stolen home.

Later in the inning, rightfielder Hill Alexander lined a single to right, which moved Sogard to third. After a strikeout and walk loaded the bases with one away, leftfielder Beau Brundage grounded into a fielder's choice to first as Sogard scored and Alexander advanced to third. With two out, a fly ball to right from Muffley was dropped by Aberdeen's Kyle Stowers, which scored Alexander and gave the Renegades a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Aberdeen again loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a single and two walks. However, Smiddy was able to strike out Stowers swinging to end the threat.

The Ironbirds finally got another run in the eighth. Handley led off the frame with a bloop single to left, then advanced to second on a balk. After the next two hitters were retired, Fontana softly lined a single to left to bring around Handley and make the score 3-2. Reliever Andrew Gross settled down after that though and got Stowers to strike out looking to end the inning.

In the ninth, Gross retired the side in order to pick up his fourth save as he struck out three over two frames while allowing a run on two hits. The win went to Smiddy (2-0) who struck out five and walked three on one hit over three shutout innings. The loss went to Ironbirds starter Kevin Magee (1-5) who allowed two earned runs on four hits in six innings to take the tough-luck loss. The southpaw also struck out four.

Despite the win, Hudson Valley was outhit 10-6. For the Renegades, Jones went 2-4 with a triple and run scored, while Brundage also went 2-4 with a run batted in. As for the Ironbirds, Fontana and Handley each picked up three hits. Fontana doubled, drove in a run and scored another. Handley's hits were all singles as he plated a run as well.

The Renegades will now go for the series win when they take on the Ironbirds in game two of their three-game set on Saturday at 6:05. Hudson Valley will send right-hander Daiveyon Whittle (0-0, 0.35 ERA) to the hill against a to-be-determined pitcher for Aberdeen.

Hudson Valley returns home on Tuesday, July 30th as they kick-off a six-game homestand against the Auburn Doubledays in a 7:05 start. It will be the longest homestand this season for the Renegades. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com, at the Dutchess Stadium ticket window, or by calling the ticket office at (845) 838-0094.

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