Fast Start Leads to Win

TROY, NY-The Hudson Valley Renegades raced out to an early six-run lead as they won going away, 10-3 Friday night at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium over the Tri-City ValleyCats. The win prevented a three-game sweep of Hudson Valley as they evened the season series with Tri-City at three wins apiece.
The Renegades started the scoring early as they plated three runs in the first inning. Second-baseman Tyler Frank started the game with a walk, then went to second on a hit-by-pitch to centerfielder Tanner Dodson. Designated hitter Erik Ostberg then came up and belted a three-run homerun over the rightfield wall to give Hudson Valley a 3-0 lead. It was Ostberg's second homer of the year, the first of which was an inside-the-park homer.
Hudson Valley then added three more in the sixth to take control of the game. Two walks and another hit batter loaded the bases with one out before catcher Chris Betts lofted a single to left to bring in a run. After that, first-baseman Jacson McGowan drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run and make the score 5-0. Rightfielder Jordan Qsar followed that with a sacrifice fly to right to bring in the final run of the inning and give Hudson Valley a 6-0 advantage.
Tri-City started their comeback in the sixth by scoring two runs. Back-to-back singles put runners at the corners to start the inning, before shortstop Trey Dawson roped a double to left to bring in the ValleyCats' first run. With runners at second and third, centerfielder Alex McKenna grounded out to second to bring in the second run of the inning and make the score 6-2.
The ValleyCats added another run in the seventh, but could have had more. With one out, a single, error, and a double-steal put runners at second and third. Third-baseman Michael Wielansky reached on a fielding error from Renegades third-baseman Adrian Rondon to bring in a run. A fly out and walk would load the bases with two away with Tri-City poised to draw closer. However, Hudson Valley reliever Nick Lee got McKenna to ground back to the mound to end the threat and keep the lead 6-3 in favor of the Renegades.
From there, the Renegades would use a four-run eighth inning to bust the game open. Qsar started the inning by smacking his first homerun of the year to right. A double by Rondon and walk to shortstop Ford Proctor followed, before leftfielder Michael Smith flew out to left to move Rondon to third. Frank brought him in with a single to left that also sent Proctor to second. After a fly out and walk loaded the bases with two away, Betts reached on a fielding error by Wielansky to score two more runs and give Hudson Valley a 10-3 lead.
Getting the win for the Renegades was reliever Trey Cumbie (2-1) who fired the final two scoreless innings. Starting pitcher Miller Hogan was sensational tossing four shutout innings on one hit. He also struck out five. The loss fell to ValleyCats starter Shawn Dubin (1-1) who allowed three runs on three hits over three innings.
Hudson Valley had nine hits in the game, however Ostberg was the only batter with more than one. He went 2-3 with two runs scored along with his three-run dinger. Tri-City had seven hits with Dawson and Wielansky registering two each. Dawson drove in a run and doubled, while Wielansky singled twice, scored a run, and drove in another.
Hudson Valley returns home tomorrow when they kickoff a two-game series and homestand against the Aberdeen Ironbirds. First-pitch is slated for 6:05 and will include a fireworks show following the game. Righty Easton McGee (4-3, 6.91 ERA) will toe the bump for the Renegades against left-hander Hector Guance (4-4, 3.49 ERA). Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.