Dark 'Knight' in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, NY- Woeful relief pitching and an unexpected foil did the Renegades in as the Brooklyn Cyclones scored five runs over the final three innings to come back from a three-run deficit and defeat Hudson Valley 6-5 in 10 innings. It was the rubber game of a three-game series played at MCU Park Monday evening.
Hudson Valley started the scoring in the fourth. With one out designated hitter Jake Fraley, making his professional debut, reached second following a fielding error by third baseman Jose Reyes who was playing his second game as part of a rehab stint with the New York Mets. Third baseman Jim Haley followed with an RBI single to right to score Fraley and give the Renegades a 1-0 lead.
They would extend their lead in the fifth almost single-handedly. With one out, second baseman Jon Popadics singled to left, then stole second and third base back-to-back. From there, leftfielder Oscar Rojas grounded to third to plate Popadics and make the score 2-0.
Brooklyn got on the board in the bottom-half. Centerfielder Jacob Zanon led off with a single, then scored on an RBI triple by catcher Dan Rizzie to cut the Hudson Valley advantage in half. The tying run was at third with no one out however the next hitter, leftfielder Hengelbert Rojas, hit a grounder to Haley who was able to put a tag on Rizzie off the bag to keep the Cyclones at bay.
The Renegades took control of the game with a three-run sixth. Fraley led off with a single then Haley reached on an error by Zanon, which put runners at first and second. After first baseman Nate Lowe was hit with a pitch, rightfielder Angel Perez singled softly to center to score Fraley and give the Renegades a 3-1 lead.
Following an out, the bases remained loaded when Popadics grounded out to first to score Haley to give Hudson Valley a two-run advantage. Rojas followed with an RBI single to left to complete the scoring and give the Renegades a 5-1 advantage.
The Cyclones tried to mount a comeback in the eighth. After first baseman Darryl Knight led off with a triple to right, third baseman Jay Jabs followed with an RBI double to center to pull Brooklyn to within three. However, after Elias Torres come on in relief and issued a walk to put runners at first and second, he proceeded to get a strikeout and a fly out to left. A wild pitch sent runners to second and third, however Torres got rightfielder Gene Cone on a comebacker to the mound to get the Renegades out of the inning without further damage.
In the ninth, the Cyclones got a leadoff walk and single before Torres got Rojas to strikeout. Noel Rodriguez relieved Torres and proceeded to give up an RBI single to Knight. A wild pitch and walk to Jabs loaded the bases with one out. That's when second baseman Nick Sergakis stepped to the plate and singled to center to bring in two runs and tie the game at five.
After Hudson Valley went 1-2-3 in the tenth, the Cyclones put the game away. Cone led off with a walk and went to second on a SAC bunt. Rodriguez intentionally walked Rizzie to put runners at first and second with one out. After a wild pitch moved the runners up a base, Rodriguez struck out Rojas for out number two. However, the next hitter Knight singled to center to end the game and give Brooklyn the 6-5 win.
Getting the win for the Cyclones was Taylor Henry (1-0) who pitched a 1-2-3 10th for the win. Rodriguez (0-1) suffered the loss for the Renegades after allowing two runs on three hits with three walks in 1.1 innings pitched.
The loss wasted a nice outing from Hudson Valley starter Spencer Moran (2-0) who allowed only one run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts in five innings of work. The run was the first he has given up all year and snapped a 11-inning scoreless streak to begin the season.
Popadics and Rojas, the eight and nine hitters for Hudson Valley, led the way for the visitors as they each had two hits and combined to drive in three runs; two by Rojas.
The Cyclones were led by Knight, who did not even start the game, and came on as a pinch-runner in the third. He wound up going 3-4 with two RBI, a triple and two runs scored. Brooklyn also got two hits apiece by Cone and Rizzie with Rizzie picking up an RBI triple.
Reyes went 0-2 for the Cyclones in his second rehab game, and for the second consecutive game was struck out by a Renegades pitcher. This time it was Moran doing the honors as Reyes was called out on strikes in the fifth.
Hudson Valley returns to Dutchess Stadium tomorrow to open a three-game series against the Staten Island Yankees. First-pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Right-hander Garrett Fulenchek (0-1, 3.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Renegades against righty Simon De La Rosa (1-0, 0.00 ERA). For tickets, call 845-838-0094 or go to hvrenegades.com.