WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY-They say speed kills, and that was no more evident for the Hudson Valley Renegades as a tremendous rundown by shortstop Tanner Dodson led to the go-ahead run in a 4-3 Renegades victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters Thursday night from Dutchess Stadium. It was the home opener
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY-They say speed kills, and that was no more evident for the Hudson Valley Renegades as a tremendous rundown by shortstop Tanner Dodson led to the go-ahead run in a 4-3 Renegades victory over the Vermont Lake Monsters Thursday night from Dutchess Stadium. It was the home opener of the 2018 season for the Renegades.
The game was tied at three in the eighth inning when Dodson started the frame with a single to right. He moved to third when the next hitter, third baseman Tyler Frank doubled to left-centerfield. After a strikeout, designated hitter Erik Ostberg grounded a ball to Vermont third baseman Max Schuemann who threw the ball to the plate to catch Dodson in a rundown. After several throws, Dodson ran back to third where the runner from second, Frank was already standing. As Dodson scampered back, Frank started back to second. Wanting to secure an out, Vermont pitcher Slater Lee threw the ball to second baseman Marcos Brito to get the out on Frank. As the throw went there, Dotson turned from third and broke for home. After tagging Frank out, Brito threw to the plate, however his throw was late and Hudson Valley took a 4-3 lead.
From there, reliever Jack Labosky (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to get the win for himself and the team. Labosky pitched the final 2.1 scoreless innings and got the Renegades out of a big jam in the seventh. Lee (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing the run in the eighth. The defeat overshadowed a fine performance from Vermont's Jose Mora who allowed one run on three hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
Hudson Valley got two runs in the first to get the ball rolling. With one out and a runner at first, Frank slapped a double down the rightfield line to bring in the game's first run. After a groundout, Frank scored on a bloop single to center by Ostberg to give the Renegades a 2-0 lead.
Vermont got a run back in the second as a single from designated hitter Alfonso Rivas and a double from leftfielder Payton Squier put runners at second and third with one away when rightfielder Devin Foyle lifted a sac fly to right to score Rivas. However, the Renegades got a break in the third when a two-out, two-strike wild pitch from reliever Jose Mora scored Dodson from third to up the Hudson Valley lead to 3-1.
The Lake Monsters would catch a big break to get back into the game in the fifth. With runners at the corners and one away, Renegades starting pitcher Paul Campbell threw wide of first on a pickoff attempt, which allowed first baseman Aaron Arruda to score from third. The error proved costly as Campbell struck out the next two men to end the inning, but with one run scoring.
Vermont tied the game in the sixth as catcher Robert Mullen looped a double down the rightfield line with two out and a runner at second to make the score three all. Vermont has a chance to take the lead in the seventh when they loaded the bases with two out, however Labosky got designated hitter Alfonso Rivas to fly to left to end the inning.
Hudson Valley had seven hits, including two singles from Dodson who scored twice and stole a base. Frank went 2-3 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Vermont got a 3-4 performance from leftfielder Payton Squier who registered a double and two singles.
The Renegades face the Lake Monsters in game two of their three-game series tomorrow at 7:05 with fireworks to follow. Righthander Michael Mercado (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will go for the Renegades against fellow righty Abdiel Mendoza (0-0, 4.50 ERA) of the Lake Monsters. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.
