Renegades Earn Split With Ironbirds

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY-The Hudson Valley Renegades split a doubleheader with the Aberdeen Ironbirds Sunday afternoon at Dutchess Stadium, taking game one 1-0 before falling in the second contest 4-2. With the split, the Renegades head into the All-Star Break in first place of the McNamara Division, three games ahead of second-place Staten Island.
The scoring for Hudson Valley started in the first inning of game one. Second-baseman Tyler Frank reached on an infield single to the mound, went to second on a walk, moved to third on a fielder's choice, then scored when leftfielder Jordan Qsar ripped a two-out single to left to give the Renegades the lead.
Aberdeen had a chance to tie the game in the seventh when they got a runner to third with two out. Renegades closer B.J. Myers uncorked a wild pitch that caromed off the backstop to catcher Chris Betts. Designated hitter Jean Carmona tried to score on the play, but was tagged out by Betts at home on a controversial call by Homeplate umpire Tyler Witte to end the game.
There were only seven hits in game one. Qsar was the only player for either squad with more than one hit as he went 2-3 with the lone RBI.
Getting the win for Hudson Valley was starting pitcher Easton McGee (5-3) would need as he tossed six brilliant innings of shutouts baseball. He allow only two baserunners, on two singles, and both men were erased on double plays. The tough-luck loser for Aberdeen was starter Hector Guance (4-5) who went the distance with six innings and allowed the game's lone run on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. The save went to Renegades closer B.J. Myers (4) who allowed a hit in a scoreless inning.
In game two, it was Aberdeen getting off to a fast start in the first inning. Back-to-back singles by second-baseman Adam Hall and Carmona put runners at first and second before designated hitter Cody Roberts ripped a double to left to score Hall and put the Ironbirds in front.
The Ironbirds added two more runs in the second as Carmona drilled a double down the leftfield line to score two runs and put Aberdeen up 3-0. They scored another run in the third as a throwing error on a fielder's choice attempt by Renegades shortstop Ford Proctor at third allowed third baseman Irving Ortega to score and make the score 4-0 in favor of Aberdeen.
The Renegades attempted a comeback in the bottom-of-the-third. Leftfielder Bryce Brown led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line, which was followed by a walk to designated hitter David Parrett and an infield single by shortstop Ford Proctor to load the bases with nobody out. Centerfielder Michael Smith then grounded into a 4-6 fielder's choice to plate Brown before Parrett scored on a failed pickoff attempt to first by Ironbirds starting pitcher Gray Fenter. The throwing error pulled the Renegades to within two at 4-2.
That was as close as Hudson Valley would get as the Ironbirds bullpen shut the door. Fenter was pulled after the third inning and reliever Zach Matson (2-1) dominated the Renegades lineup with three scoreless innings on two hits and four strikeouts to get the win. Closer Ryan Conroy (5) pitched a scoreless seventh to garner the save. Taking the loss for Hudson Valley was starter Michael Mercado (1-2) who allowed four runs on seven hits in three frames.
Aberdeen finished with eight hits in game two. Hall went 2-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Carmona also went 2-4 with a two-run double, and Roberts had a single and double with an RBI to aid the Ironbirds attack. The top three hitters in the Aberdeen order went a combined 6-11 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.
Hudson Valley was held to only four hits in game two. The only batter with more than one base-knock was Proctor who had two singles in four at-bats.
Hudson Valley will now take the next two days off for the All-Star Break before returning to action on Wednesday with a game at Staten Island. First-pitch is slated for 7:00. Starting pitchers for the contest have not been determined.
The Renegades return to Dutchess Stadium on Thursday for the back-end of a home-and-home series against the Yankees beginning at 7:05. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.