An Ugly Split

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY-The Hudson Valley Renegades scored three runs without the benefit of a hit over the final two innings to earn the split of a doubleheader with the Brooklyn Cyclones Saturday evening at Dutchess Stadium. The Renegades came back to win game two of the twin-bill 4-3 in eight innings, after dropping the first contest 9-2.
In game one, Brooklyn already owned a 2-0 lead from Friday when rightfielder Ross Adolph blasted a two-out, two-run homer over the left-centerfield wall. It was his third homer of the season.
Hudson Valley got a run back in the third. Second-basemna Garrett Giovannelli led off with a triple to center, before scoring on a sac-fly to right by centerfielder Tanner Dodson to make the score 2-1.
From there, it was all Brooklyn as the Cyclones scored seven runs over the next two innings to put the game away. In the fourth, Brooklyn got two runs on an RBI single from leftfielder Wagner Lagrange and an RBI groundout to first from third baseman Brian Sharp. In the fifth, the first six men reached base by way of single leading to five runs. Designated hitter Walter Rasquin, first-baseman Chase Chambers, and Lagrange all had RBI singles, catcher Hayden Senger had a sacrifice fly, and Chambers scored on a wild pitch from Renegades reliever Jesus Ortiz. When it was all said and done, Brooklyn owned a 9-1 lead.
Hudson Valley got a meaningless run in the seventh when shortstsop Ford Proctor scored from second on a throwing error by Brooklyn reliever Billy Oxford.
Getting the win for Brooklyn was relief pitcher Kevin Smith (4-1) who struck out two on one hit over two scoreless frames. The loss fell to Renegades starter Miller Hogan (2-2) who allowed two runs on Friday by scattering three hits over three frames with four strikeouts. Reliever Nick Lee struggled mightily for Hudson Valley upon the game's resumption, allowing seven runs on seven hits in an inning-plus. On the bright side, fellow-reliever Jesus Ortiz saved the 'Gades pen by retiring the final 15 men he faced and allowing only one baserunner in five innings.
Brooklyn banged out 11 hits. Adolph went 2-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored. Rasquin finished 2-5 with a double, RBI and two runs. Chambers had two singles in three at-bats with two runs scored and an RBI, and Lagrange had two singles, two RBI and a run scored to aid the Brooklyn effort. The only Renegade with more than one hit was McGowan who went 2-4 with a double.
In game two, Brooklyn started fast as once again Adolph swatted a homerun. This time it was a solo-shot over the rightfield wall to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead. Brooklyn added another run in the third when a double down the rightfield line from designated hitter Carlos Cortes scored second-baseman Dylan Tice from first to up the Cyclones' lead to 2-0. Adolph would destroy the Renegades again in the fifth when he belted his second homerun of the game, third of the series, and fifth of the season. His shot over the rightfield wall was another solo dinger to make the score 3-0.
Hudson Valley tried to make a game of it in the sixth when they got runners to first and third with one out. McGowan stood in and drilled a ball to deep right-centerfield. However, the ball died on the warning track for a sacrifice fly and the Renegades were to within two.
However, Brooklyn pitching would fall apart over the final two innings by walking six batters and hitting another. In the seventh Hudson Valley used four walks, including a bases-loaded free pass to pinch hitter Erik Ostberg, to pull to within one. With the bases loaded and one away, second-baseman Ford Proctor lined a sac fly to left to tie game two and send it into extra innings.
In the eighth, the Renegades put runners at the corners with two away. Cyclones reliever Yeudy Colon hit third-baseman Adrian Rondon with a pitch, then issued another bases-loaded walk to centerfielder Bryce Brown to end the game.
Getting the win for Hudson Valley was reliever Trey Cumbie (3-1) who tossed three hitless innings with four strikeouts. Colon (3-3) suffered the loss by allowing the game-winning run over two walks in 1.1 innings. Co-closer Ryley Gilliam struggled for Brooklyn as he walked four of the five men he faced in allowing the tying runs in the seventh. The loss ruined a sensational start for starter Christian James who allowed only one run on two hits in six innings.
Hudson Valley had only two hits in the second game; both were singles by shortstop Tyler Frank who also scored the game-winning run. The Cyclones, meanwhile, had seven hits. Adolph finished 2-3 with his two solo homers, while Cortes went 3-4 with an RBI double.  
The Renegades will go for the series win tomorrow when they take on the Cyclones at 5:05. Starting for Hudson Valley will be right-hander Zack Trageton (0-0, 0.00 ERA) who will be making his debut as a Renegade.   He will be opposed by fellow-righty Kyle Wilson (2-3, 3.38 ERA). Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.