ABERDEEN, MD (Friday, August 31): The Hudson Valley Renegades pulled off an improbable 2-1 comeback victory over the Aberdeen IronBirds Friday night in front of 6,403 fans at Ripken Stadium.

The Renegades (48-23) didn't score until the ninth inning, but managed to blow past the IronBirds (26-45) and cut their magic number in the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League to one. Hudson Valley has now won two straight games, and has taken the last nine matchups against the IronBirds.

Aberdeen opened the scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sam Kimmel led off with a ground ball single through the left side against Renegades starter Jesse Hahn, and Cameron Edman did the same. A fly out to center advanced Kimmel to third, and he came home on a sacrifice fly by Will Howard to put Aberdeen up 1-0.

The score stayed stable until the top of the ninth inning. With one out, designated hitter Richie Shaffer stepped in to face reliever Sander Beck. Shaffer drilled the first pitch over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the season, tying the game at 1-1. Aberdeen went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

The IronBirds threatened in the bottom of the tenth against Renegades reliever Marcus Jensen (5-1). Kimmel dropped a bunt up the third base line for a leadoff single, putting the potential winning run on base. Edman struck out swinging to bring up Manny Hernandez. On a 1-1 count, Kimmel tried to steal second, but catcher Luke Maile fired a rocket to Tommy Coyle at second base in time to tag out Kimmel for the second out. Jensen induced a weak pop out to end the inning.

In the top of the 11th inning, Hudson Valley finally burst ahead. After two quick outs, Shaffer worked a walk off reliever Jose Nivar (2-3). Maile cracked the first pitch into right field for a single, advancing Shaffer to second base. Shortstop Leonardo Reginatto came to the plate, having hit a ninth-inning two-run homer Thursday night against Brooklyn to give the Renegades the lead. Reginatto pounded a hard ground ball up the middle. Shortstop Joel Hutter dove and stopped the ball, but couldn't make a throw to retire any runners. Shaffer saw the dive and sprinted around third, coming home to score the go-ahead run. Jensen struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to end the ballgame.

Hahn threw five superb innings, allowing a run on five hits and whiffing five. Alex Moshier gave up one hit against three strikeouts in two scoreless innings of relief. Dylan Floro was perfect in his two innings of action, fanning one. Jensen got the win, with one hit allowed against four strikeouts in two innings.

Aberdeen starter Brady Wager took a no-decision despite allowing just two hits and one walk against six strikeouts over six innings. Josh Hader gave up a hit and a walk but no runs in two innings of relief; he struck out three. Beck surrendered a run on one hit and one walk in two innings, fanning four. Nivar took the loss, allowing a run on two hits and one walk in one inning.

The Renegades will try to clinch a division title Saturday against Aberdeen, with Hudson Valley southpaw Matt Spann on the hill against IronBirds righty Sebastian Vader. 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.

Great seats are still available for the playoffs at Dutchess Stadium. Call the ticket office 845-838-0094 for information, or go to www.hvrenegades.com to order yours now!