Hoppers lose series finale in 11 innings

GREENSBORO ― For the second time in this six-game series, the Greensboro Grasshoppers were one strike away from victory in the top of the ninth inning when the roof fell in.

But this time was different. This time it was, well, weird.

Tyler Hardman went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs to lead the Hudson Valley Renegades to a wild 16-10 victory in 11 innings at First National Bank Field on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The final score only hints at the weirdness of this Father’s Day matinee.

The teams combined to use 15 pitchers. There were seven batters hit by pitches ― and one crucial batter narrowly missed ― and five fielding errors. There were four ejections, a player from each team plus Hoppers manager Callix Crabbe and pitching coach Fernando Nieve.

But in the end, the Renegades hit two of their four home runs in the game in the 11th inning to pull away and win.

The Hoppers had their chances.

Ernny Ordonez hit his sixth and seventh home runs of the season, a three-run shot that tied the score 4-4 in the fourth inning, and a two-run homer that tied it again 9-9 in the 10th.

Claudio Finol went 2-for-4 with a double off the top of the left-field wall, and Abrahan Gutierrez drove in two runs on a fielder’s choice grounder that gave the Hoppers a 7-5 lead.

That play in the seventh inning led to the first ejection ― Renegades player Trey Sweeney for chirping from the bench ― and to Hudson Valley playing the rest of the game under protest. Gutierrez hit a ground ball with the bases loaded, and the Renegades tried to turn a double play. Dariel Lopez was forced out at second, but the throw to first was late and low, and Gutierrez collided with the first baseman, knocking both men to the ground as the two lead runners both scored.

Greensboro reliever Eddy Yean came on to protect the new lead. He gave up a solo home run, but struck out two in 1 ⅔ innings and was in line for the win.

Hoppers closer Cameron Junker held a 7-6 lead when he started the ninth inning, and he got two quick outs on a grounder and a strikeout. Then he got two strikes on Hardman. Junker threw two borderline pitches he thought were strike three. Instead Hardman doubled on a 3-2 pitch ― and Crabbe was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Hudson Valley’s Spencer Henson drove in the tying run with a single ― and Nieve was ejected after a mound visit to settle Junker down. Henson was thrown out trying to steal second ― and Junker was ejected during his walk back to the dugout.

The Hoppers had one last chance to win the game. After Ordoñez’s one-out homer tied the game in the bottom of the 10th, the Renegades gave the ball to reliever Charlie Ruegger (2-1). Hudson Head singled and pinch-hitter Endy Rodriguez doubled. Head was held at third base ― it would’ve been a close play at the plate ― and the Renegades intentionally walked Finol to load the bases.

Jackson Glenn followed, and he spun away from an inside breaking ball that got away from Ruegger ― and immediately struck himself in the helmet with his bat twice, because taking the hit would’ve driven home the game-winning run.

Glenn struck out. Lopez struck out. And the Renegades scored seven runs off Wandi Montout (3-3) and Michell Miliano in the 11th to put the score out of reach.

NOTES

• Designated hitter Jacob Gonzalez went 1-for-6 with a double and an RBI. He has been one of the South Atlantic League's best players since his promotion from Class-A Bradenton on May 10. He has hit safely in 25 of 31 games since then, with 11 multi-hit games. Gonzalez is 39-for-119 (.328) with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 16 RBIs.
• Since June 1, utility player Ernny Ordoñez has hit safely in seven of nine games, going 9-for-35 (.257) with four home runs, two doubles and 13 RBIs.
• Center fielder Hudson Head, a 21-year-old rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 20 prospect in Pittsburgh's farm system, went 1-for-5 and has reached base in 33 of his last 38 games.