Kentucky Blues: Renegades drop season opener 6-1 at BG

Bowling Green, Ky. (April 5, 2024) — A strong night at the plate for Jesus Rodriguez was not enough as the Hudson Valley Renegades fell to the Bowling Green Hot Rods 6-1 on Opening Night at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Hot Rods started strong, sending eight batters to the plate and struck for four runs in the bottom of the first against Sebastian Keane. Making just his third professional start and first in High-A, the right-hander allowed three hits and walked two in the first.

Keane (0-1) departed after just 1.2 innings in which he allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout. He left with the bases loaded, but Yorlin Calderon coaxed a fly out from Hunter Haas to escape the jam. Calderon was terrific out of the bullpen, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out three.

Jesus Rodriguez got the Renegades on the board in the top of the second inning with a leadoff home run to right field off Trevor Martin. It was Rodriguez’s first home run of the 2024 season after he clubbed nine round-trippers in 2023.

The Renegades loaded the bases in the top of the fourth with one out against Trevor Martin, but did not score. Martin (1-0) tossed 5.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out nine and not issuing a walk.

Bowling Green struck for two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth against Matt Keating to open their lead up to 6-1. Cole Ayers finished the game on the mound for Hudson Valley, tossing the final 2.0 innings and striking out four while working around two hits.

Rodriguez starred at the plate for the Renegades, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double, a home run and one RBI.

Postgame Notes: Rodriguez’s solo home run was the first hit of the season for the Renegades, marking the third straight season that Hudson Valley’s first hit of the year was a solo home run. Rodriguez joins Trey Sweeney (2022) and Spencer Jones (2023) as players to contribute to the feat… The Renegades have lost three of their last four Opening Night games, including three straight season openers on the road (2021, 2022 and 2024)… Friday’s game was the first game in Renegades history played in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The Renegades continue their series with the Hot Rods on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. LHP Kyle Carr is slated to make his professional debut with Hudson Valley against RHP Alex Cook for Bowling Green. Coverage begins on the Renegades Baseball Network at 7:15 p.m. Following the current road trip, the Renegades return home to Heritage Financial Park on Tuesday, April 16 for their Home Opener against the Aberdeen IronBirds. To purchase tickets, slide to www.hvrenegades.com/tickets.