Ugly Game Turns Beautiful
Published on August 17, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release
FISHKILL, NY - It wasn't pretty but the Hudson Valley Renegades overcame themselves to defeat the Auburn Doubledays 4-3 in 10 innings Wednesday night at Dutchess Stadium. The game ended on a walk-off wild pitch on an intentional walk.
Auburn drew first blood thanks to some sloppy play by the Renegades in the second. With one out, third baseman Paul Panaccione was hit with a pitch. First baseman Ryan Ripken then came to the plate and hit a comebacker to Hudson Valley starting pitcher Eduard Rosillo. Rosillo tried to start a double-play by throwing the ball to second, however the throw airmailed into centerfield, which allowed Panaccione to go to third. Rosillo was able to get a strikeout for out number two with a chance to get out of the inning unscathed. However the right-hander would uncork a wild pitch, which allowed Panaccione to come in from third and give the Doubledays a 1-0 lead.
Hudson Valley came back to take the lead in the second as the Doubledays provided some poor play of their own. Designated hitter Chris Betts led off the inning with a ground-rule double to left-center. The next hitter, catcher Danny De La Calle, then lined a pitch to Auburn rightfielder Daniel Johnson who dropped the ball allowing Betts to score and tie the game. De La Calle would go to second on the two-base error. After shortstop Bill Pujols walked, centerfielder Jake Fraley grounded into a fielder's choice to second put runners at first and third with one out. Leftfielder Garrett Whitley followed that with an RBI groundout to short to give Hudson Valley a 2-1 lead.
The Doubledays used wild pitching from Hudson Valley to go back in front. Rosillo couldn't find the strike zone and walked the first two men he faced in the fifth. After centerfielder Blake Perkins laid down a sacrifice bunt, Johnson redeemed himself by driving in a run with a groundout to short to tie the game and move the other runner to third. That's when leftfielder Oliver Ortiz lined a single to right to score the go-ahead run and make the score 3-2 Auburn.
This strange ballgame would take another turn in the bottom of the seventh as the Renegades tied things up. With two out and no one on, Pujols lined a single to center. He would then score as a pickoff attempt by Doubledays reliever Steven Fuentes went wide of first and down the rightfield line. The fleet-footed Pujols scored all the way from first on the play to tie the game as the ball got trapped in the Renegades bullpen.
Things stayed that way until the 10th inning when this very strange game ended in the oddest fashion. Whitley started the inning by grounded a double down the rightfield line. He moved to third on a bunt single by second baseman Miles Mastrobuoni to put runners at the corners with one out. After the next hitter popped out, the Doubledays tried to intentionally walk first-baseman Nate Lowe to load the bases and set up a possible double play. However, the first intentional pitch by Doubledays reliever Sam Held went to the backstop and Whitley scored on the wild pitch to win the game for the Renegades. It was Hudson Valley's first extra-inning win of the season.
The game was ugly as the teams combined for five errors and 11 walks. Four of those errors were committed by Auburn, while the Renegades allowed seven of the walks. Hudson Valley also hit three batters.
Getting the win for Hudson Valley was reliever J.D. Busfield (4-1) who pitched two scoreless innings of relief. The loss went to Held (1-2) who allowed the game-winning run on three hits in 2.1 innings.
The Renegades had seven hits including a 2-5 performance from Whitley. The Niskayuna, N.Y. native doubled, singled, drove in a run, and scored the game-winning run. Auburn, meanwhile, was held to three hits including two from Ortiz who doubled and drove in a run.
The Renegades and Doubledays will go at it in game two of their series Thursday with first-pitch scheduled for 7:05. The starting pitcher for Hudson Valley has not been determined. Taking the hill for Auburn will be southpaw Yonathan Ramirez (3-2, 4.38 ERA). For tickets, call 845-838-0094 or go to hvrenegades.com.
New York-Penn League Stories from August 17, 2016
- Farinaro Fantastic as Spikes Take Down Crosscutters, 5-3 - State College Spikes
- Renegades Walk off on Doubledays - Auburn Doubledays
- Ugly Game Turns Beautiful - Hudson Valley Renegades
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