LOWELL, MA- The Hudson Valley Renegades used an eight-run seventh inning to overcome an early four-run deficit in defeating the Lowell Spinners 10-5 Sunday evening from Edward A. LeLacheur Park.Lowell scored the first four runs of the game to seemingly take control of the contest. In the first, first baseman
LOWELL, MA- The Hudson Valley Renegades used an eight-run seventh inning to overcome an early four-run deficit in defeating the Lowell Spinners 10-5 Sunday evening from Edward A. LeLacheur Park.
Lowell scored the first four runs of the game to seemingly take control of the contest. In the first, first baseman Devlin Granburg lined a double to left to score designated hitter Jarren Duran from first to give the Spinners a 1-0 lead. Two innings later, in the third, MLB veteran infielder Brandon Phillips belted his first homer as a Spinner to leftfield. It was a three-run shot by the second baseman to give Lowell a commanding 4-0 lead.
Spinners starting pitcher Brian Brown was in control, holding the Renegades hitless over five innings. However, once he left the tide began to turn against the Lowell bullpen.
In the sixth, the Renegades got runners to second and third with two out when second baseman Tyler Frank roped a two-run single to left to cut the Hudson Valley deficit in half.
However, it was in the seventh when the Renegades did the rest of their damage to win the game; and it all started with one out and no one on base. A double and two walks loaded the bases with one out when rightfielder Bryce Brown grounded into a fielder's choice attempt to first. The throw to the plate was missed by Spinners catcher Alan Marrero and a run scored to pull Hudson Valley to within one. Leftfielder Michael Smith followed with a line-drive single to left to score two runs and give the Renegades their first lead of the game at 5-4.
The Renegades would score another run on a fielder's choice attempt to third, as another missed catch by Lowell second baseman Jonathan Ortega brought in another run and upped Hudson Valley's lead to 6-4. With runners at the corners and still only one away, Frannk provided the big blow with a three-run blast to left-centerfield. The dinger was his second of the season and the Renegades owned a 9-4 lead.
Hudson Valley got their final run of the inning when, with two out and the bases loaded, Lowell reliever Danny Bethea uncorked a wild pitch to bring in the eighth run of the inning and give the Renegades a 10-4 lead. The eight runs were the most in an inning by the Renegades this season. The did it on only four hits thanks to three Spinners errors and four walks in the inning.
Lowell scored the final run of the game in the ninth when Ortega scored a runner from second on a double to left with nobody out.
The Renegades registered only seven hits for the contest from four players. Frank, Smith and first baseman Jacson McGowan each had two hits. Frank led the way by going 2-4 with a homer, run and five RBI, which are the most in a single game by a Renegade this season. Smith singled twice by driving in a run and scoring two more. McGowan singled, doubled and scored a run. Designated hitter Erik Ostberg chipped in with two runs and a double to aid the Hudson Valley attack.
The Spinners had eight hits including a 4-5 effort from Duran who tripled and scored a run. Granburg doubled and drove in a run while going 2-4 for the evening.
Reliever Jesus Ortiz (2-0) got the win in relief for Hudson Valley by firing four innings of two-hit ball. The right-hander allowed an earned run on a walk while striking out two. The loss fell to Lowell relief man Taylor Ahearn (0-1) who allowed seven runs, three earned, on five hits in 1.1 innings. He also walked two and struck out four while allowing five hits.
The Renegades complete their three-game series with the Spinners tomorrow. First-pitch is set for 6:35. Righty Easton McGee (3-0, 2.14 ERA) will be on the hill for the Renegades against fellow righty Thaddeus Ward (0-0, 5.40 ERA) of the Spinners.
Hudson Valley returns home on July 11th when they kickoff a three-game series and homestand against the West Virginia Black Bears. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.
