Renegades Blanked By Brooklyn 3-0 in Series Starter
The 'Gades (9-5) gave up just four hits to the visiting Cyclones (10-4), but a stifling performance by Brooklyn starter Luis Mateo (3-0) kept the home team off the board entirely, and allowed Brooklyn to grab sole control of first place in the New York-Penn League's MacNamara division.
Brooklyn struck first in the top of the second inning. Leadoff man Cole Frenzel took a first-pitch fastball from Renegades starter Matt Spann (0-1) and sent it screaming over the right-field fence for a solo homer. Stefan Sabol followed up with a single to left field, and it looked like the Cyclones were poised for a big inning. But Spann settled down after that, getting the next three batters in order to end the threat with Brooklyn leading 1-0.
In the top of the third, the Cyclones extended their advantage. With one out, Dimas Ponce singled by third baseman Felix Gonzalez, and Phillip Evans drew a walk behind him to put runners on first and second. After Kevin Plawecki flew out to center field, Frenzel stood back in the box. Spann got ahead of Frenzel, but lost control and drilled him to load the bases for Sabol, who hit a chopper to Gonzalez at third. Gonzalez played the ball off his hands for an error, allowing Ponce and Evans to score and make it 3-0 in Brooklyn's favor.
The Cyclones' hurlers took it from there, muting Hudson Valley's offense for the next several innings. Brooklyn's defense played a big role too, as line drives to two infielders were gloved in to rob Hudson Valley of hits, and right fielder Eudy Piña made a sensational running catch that denied Renegades second baseman Tommy Coyle an extra-base hit to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Renegades finally presented a serious threat. Trailing 3-0, center fielder Marty Gantt placed a leadoff single through the 5-6 hole against Brooklyn closer Tyler Vanderheiden. Coyle followed up with his third hit of the game, a grounder through the right side that advanced Gantt to second base. Catcher Luke Maile blooped a soft fly ball that got down just beyond the reach of Brooklyn shortstop Evans to load the bases with nobody out. But first baseman Michael Williams popped out to right field on the first pitch he saw, and right fielder Joel Caminero grounded into a 6-4-3 game-ending double play.
Spann tossed six innings (a new high for Renegades starters), allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out two. Brandon Henderson tossed three scoreless frames of relief, giving up just a walk while striking out three.
Mateo threw six shutout innings to earn his third consecutive win, allowing just three hits while striking out six and dropping his ERA to a microscopic 0.51 mark. David Wynn threw two perfect frames of relief, striking out three Renegades. Vanderheiden picked up his fourth save despite his difficulties in the ninth, with only the three hits against him in his one inning of work.
The Renegades and Cyclones tangle again Monday night at MCU Park in Brooklyn, with Sean Bierman starting for the Renegades against Luis Cessa for the Cyclones. Game time is at 7 p.m., with the pregame broadcast beginning at 6:45 p.m. on HVRenegades.com.