One Hitter: Thorpe dominates in 9-0 Sunday victory

Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (June 4, 2023) — Drew Thorpe turned in the best start of the season for the Hudson Valley Renegades as the team blanked the Aberdeen IronBirds 9-0 in a one-hitter on Sunday afternoon at Heritage Financial Park.

Thorpe (4-1) dazzled all afternoon, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out seven in his eight innings of work. The New York Yankees’ No. 6 prospect became the first Renegades starter to pitch into the eighth inning this season and just the second ‘Gades pitcher to throw 8.0 shutout innings in the Portal Era (2005-Present). His lone hit allowed was a single to Creed Willems leading off the top of the second.

He was provided with some offense early beginning in the third with a sacrifice fly from Alexander Vargas to push Hudson Valley ahead 1-0. In the fourth, Antonio Gómez led off with a double down the left field line against IronBirds starter Alex Pham (2-2), and Anthony Garcia followed by taking an 0-1 pitch and depositing it over the right field wall for his third home run of the season to extend the Renegades lead to 3-0.

Anthony Garcia with an absolute BOMB! 💣

Break out the tape measure 😱

We lead 3-0 💪 pic.twitter.com/FYw4CMZnrE

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) June 4, 2023

After a trio of walks loaded the bases later in the inning, a wild pitch thrown by reliever Dan Hammer scored Spencer Henson to close off the three-run fourth.

After another wild pitch in the fifth scored a run for Hudson Valley, the ‘Gades offense surged forward in the seventh on an RBI single from Garcia, and an RBI double from Grant Richardson to pad the lead to 8-0. Garcia finished the day 2-for-4 with a home, three RBIs, and two runs.

Gómez completed the day’s scoring with a solo-home run in the eighth off Graham Firoved. The Renegades backstop reached base four times and finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, and four runs.

Carlos Gómez entered in the ninth inning in relief of Thorpe and retired the IronBirds in order to complete the victory. Hudson Valley pitching retired the final 11 batters and yielded just three baserunners the entire contest while facing two over the minimum.

Postgame Notes: The only other Renegades pitcher to throw 8.0 innings without allowing a run in the Portal Era was Tyree Hayes, who threw a complete game, 9.0 inning shutout at the Lowell Spinners on Aug. 10, 2008… In the last three games, Hudson Valley starters have combined to throw 22.0 innings, while allowing only seven hits, three runs (three earned runs), six walks, and 27 strikeouts.

After an off day on Monday, the Renegades travel to Lakewood to take on the Jersey Shore Blue Claws. First pitch on Tuesday night is slated for 7:05 p.m. with coverage on the Renegades Baseball Network beginning at 6:45 p.m. The Renegades will send LHP Joel Valdez (1-3, 7.08) to the hill, while the Blue Claws have yet to name a starter.