'Gades Trapped in Full 'Nelson'

NILES, OH -Mahoning Valley leftfielder Hosea Nelson belted a two-run walk-off homerun Sunday night to give the Scrappers an 8-6 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades from Eastwood Field. The ninth-inning blast completed a five-run comeback after the Scrappers fell behind 6-3 in the fifth inning.
Hudson Valley got on board first in the first. Designated hitter Tanner Dodson laced a one-out triple to right, then scored on a single to left from third baseman Tyler Frank.
Mahoning Valley roared back with three runs in the third as two walks and a double steal put runners at second and third with one away. Designated hitter Richard Palacios followed with a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game. After a walk, leftfielder Hosea Nelson grounded a single to right give the Scrappers their first leadoff the game. Later in the inning, an infield single would load the bases with two away when rightfielder Clark Scolamiero roped a single to right to add another run and up the Mahoning Valley lead to 3-1.
The Renegades would then respond with a four-run fourth to take a two-run lead. Three consecutive singles to start the inning loaded the bases before leftfielder Justin Bridgman and second baseman Garrett Giovannelli provided back-to-back sacrifice flies to tie the game. After a single put runners at first and second with two out, Proctor grounded another single to left to score the go-ahead run and give the Renegades a 4-3 lead. With runners at the corners, Mahoning Valley third baseman Henry Pujols missed a pickoff throw from reliever Jordan Scheftz to score the final run of the inning as Hudson Valley led 5-3.
In the top of the fifth, after three straight walks loaded the bases with one out, Bridgman legged out a 5-4 fielder's choice to increase the Hudson Valley advantage to 6-3.
However, the Scrappers would come back with the next three runs to tie the game. In the fifth, with runners at the corners and one out, catcher Jason Rodriguez lofted a sac fly to left to pull Mahoning Valley to within two. In the sixth, runners stood at second and third with one away when second baseman Tyler Freeman grounded to short to drive in one run and send the other runner to third. Palacios then followed with a lined single to left to tie the game at six.
Things stayed that way until the ninth. After Palacios walked and first baseman Mitch Reeves struck out, the stage was set for Nelson who sent a 1-2 pitch from Hudson Valley reliever Jesus Ortiz over the right-centerfield wall to end the game. The dinger was Nelson's second of the season.
Getting the win for Mahoning Valley was relief man Luis Santos (4-1) who fired 2.2 scoreless innings on two hits with two strikeouts. He and fellow reliever Jordan Scheftz held the Renegades scoreless on three hits over the final four innings of the game. Taking the loss for Hudson Valley was Ortiz (2-1) who allowed the walk-off along with two hits in 2.2 frames with three strikeouts.
The Renegades had 12 hits in the game, including two apiece from Dodson, Frank, catcher Erik Ostberg, and first-baseman Jacson McGowan. All four scored a run with Frank driving in one and Dodson recording a triple. Bridgman led the way with two RBI.
Mahoning Valley had nine hits, and again it was Nelson leading the way by going 3-5 with a run and three RBI to go along with his round-tripper. Palacios chipped in by scoring one and driving in two others.
The three-run third by the Scrappers snapped a string of 30.2 scoreless innings recorded by Renegades hurlers.
Hudson Valley will face Mahoning Valley in the finale of their three-game series tomorrow at 7:05. Righty Easton McGee (3-1, 4.50 ERA) will be on the hill for the Renegades against fellow righty Alex Royalty (0-0, 1.50 ERA) of the Scrappers.
The Renegades return to Dutchess Stadium on Tuesday, July 17^th when they begin a six-game homestand against the Connecticut Tigers starting at 7:05. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.