WAPPINGERS FALLS (Sunday, August 12): The Hudson Valley Renegades fell 5-2 to the visiting Lowell Spinners for their third straight loss Sunday in front of 5,116 fans at Dutchess Stadium.

The 'Gades (35-19) were swept at home for just the first time all season, dropping three in a row to the resurgent Spinners (26-28). Hudson Valley will take a one-game lead in the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League into the All-Star Break.

Lowell opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Mike Miller led off with a ground-rule double to left off Hudson Valley starter Sean Bierman (3-2). After Deven Marrero walked and Dreily Guerrero singled to load the bases, David Chester bounced into a 6-4-3 double play that allowed Miller to race home and give the Spinners the 1-0 lead.

The Renegades evened the score in the bottom of the second. First baseman Luke Maile was hit by a pitch with one out, and moved to second on a balk by Lowell starting pitcher Madison Younginer. After designated hitter Justin O'Conner walked, right fielder Joel Caminero flew to right for the second out, bringing up catcher Jake DePew. The Hudson Valley backstop knocked a single to right, scoring Maile and tying the ballgame at 1-1.

Lowell took the lead for good in the fifth inning. Aneury Tavarez got a leadoff single through the middle, and Matt Gedman reached on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Dunn to move Tavarez to second. J.T. Watkins dropped down a bunt single to the left side, loading the bases with no outs. Miller bounced into a 4-6-3 double play, which gave the Renegades two outs but allowed Tavarez to score from third. Marrero then singled home Gedman, making the score 3-1 Lowell.

Hudson Valley closed some of the gap in the sixth against reliever Yunior Ortega (2-2), as third baseman Richie Shaffer lined a leadoff single to left and moved to second on a wild pitch. Shaffer advanced to third on a fly out to right by Maile, and came home to score on a ground out from O'Conner. The run trimmed the Lowell lead to 3-2.

The Spinners tacked on some insurance runs in the eighth inning. Watkins drew a leadoff walk from Hudson Valley reliever Ian Kendall, and moved to second on a one-out single from Marrero. Guerrero hammered a double to right field, scoring both runners and giving the Spinners their final 5-2 lead.

Bierman took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks over six innings against a strikeout. Kendall coughed up two runs on three hits and a walk in two innings of work, fanning two. Ryan Garton allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of action.

Younginer allowed a run on one hit and two walks over three innings, whiffing three. Ortega earned the victory, giving up a run on four hits while striking out three in four innings. Braden Kapteyn pitched the eighth and ninth in scoreless fashion for his fifth save, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one. All three Lowell pitchers hit a batter.

The Renegades will take a couple of days off for the All-Star Break, with six Hudson Valley players heading to Niles, Ohio as representatives of the American League team. Great tickets are still available for the stretch run at Dutchess Stadium, so make sure you call 845-838-0094 to get yours today! The full Hudson Valley roster will be back in action Wednesday on the road at the Connecticut Tigers. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., with Ben Gellman's pregame show beginning at 6:50 p.m. on 1450 and 1370 AM WKIP, as well as online at HVRenegades.com.