So Close: Final comeback falls short in Wilmington

Wilmington, Del. (Aug. 31, 2023) — In a back-and-forth affair, the Hudson Valley Renegades fell 7-5 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday night at Frawley Stadium.

The Renegades offense threatened against Bryan Caceres in the top of the first inning. Anthony Hall, Jared Serna, and T.J. Rumfield strung together three straight singles to begin the contest before Caceres induced a double play and an inning-ending groundout to keep Hudson Valley off the board.

Wilmington took advantage and plated three runs in the bottom of the first against Yorlin Calderon. Daylen Lile walked and Andrew Pickney reached on an error, before Yohandy Morales laced a two-run double to center. Murphy Stehly later scored Morales on a fielder’s choice to extend the Wilmington lead to 3-0. Only one of the three runs scored in the inning against Calderon were earned runs due to the error.

Hudson Valley responded with a three-run third against Caceres. Jared Wegner singled and advanced on a wild pitch from Caceres, before Hall drove him in to cut the Wilmington lead to 3-1. After Serna doubled to place runners on second and third, Rumfield plated them both with a two-run double to tie the game at 3-3.

They call him 2 Run Rumfield pic.twitter.com/og9kt4E1q2

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) August 31, 2023

In the second game of his Minor League rehab assignment, Rumfield finished the night 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and played five innings defensively at first base.

The Blue Rocks retook the lead at 4-3 with a sacrifice fly from Brandon Boissiere in the third. In his High-A debut, Calderon allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits in three innings.

Cole Gabrielson and Wegner greeted Marlon Perez (6-1) with back-to-back doubles to begin the fourth and tie the game at 4-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Rocks pulled ahead for the final time, scoring three runs against Joel Valdez (3-7). After the left-hander tossed two scoreless innings, the first three batters reached with Jared McKenzie doubling home a run to give Wilmington a 5-4 lead. A wild pitch from Valdez and an RBI groundout from Andrew Pickney scored the other two runs to pad the Blue Rocks advantage at 7-4.

Wegner crushed a solo home run to lead off the ninth against Todd Peterson to trim the lead back to 7-5. Peterson retired the next three batters to end the contest. Wegner finished his night 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBIs, and two runs, falling a triple shy of the cycle.

🚀 WEGNER! pic.twitter.com/Po1qCUfh86

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) September 1, 2023

Out of the bullpen, Luis Velasquez struck out four and allowed just one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings.

The Renegades and Blue Rocks continue their six-game series on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:15 on the Renegades Baseball Network. Hudson Valley will send RHP Zach Messinger (1-8, 4.29) to the hill opposite of RHP Andry Lara (5-8, 4.79) for Wilmington.