Splitsville: HV and Rome split Sunday twin bill
Rome, Ga. (April 14, 2024) — The Hudson Valley Renegades split a doubleheader with the Rome Emperors on Sunday afternoon at AdventHealth Stadium. The Emperors won the first game in a 5-4 extra-innings walk-off, and the Renegades took the night cap 6-3. In the opener Kyle Carr worked in and
Rome, Ga. (April 14, 2024) — The Hudson Valley Renegades split a doubleheader with the Rome Emperors on Sunday afternoon at AdventHealth Stadium. The Emperors won the first game in a 5-4 extra-innings walk-off, and the Renegades took the night cap 6-3.
In the opener Kyle Carr worked in and out of trouble early on, stranding six runners on base in the first three innings. However, the Emperors broke through in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two.
With runners on first and second and Joel Valdez pitching in relief, Nick Ward was picked off first and got himself in a rundown. During the ensuing pickle, catcher Jesus Rodriguez threw a ball wildly to third that rolled away, allowing both runners to score. The Emperors tacked on a run against Valdez in the fifth when Sabin Ceballos doubled and scored on two wild pitches.
The Renegades got on the board in the top of the sixth when Roc Riggio reached on an error and scored on a Josh Moylan RBI single.
In the top of the seventh, Anthony Hall led off with a single and scored on an Alexander Vargas triple. Two batters later, Riggio brought in Vargas with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. Hudson Valley jumped in front in the eighth when Rodriguez drove in automatic runner Jared Serna to give the Renegades a 4-3 advantage.
Against Luis Arejula (0-1) in the bottom of the eighth, Rome rallied for two runs with Adam Zebrowski providing the walk-off single to score Ethan Workinger to give the Emperors a 5-4 victory.
The Renegades started the second game with a bang, as Riggio lined the first pitch from Tyree Thompson to center for a triple and scored on a Serna sac fly. Omar Martinez followed with a solo home run to right, and Rafael Flores brought in a run with a fielder’s choice groundout later in the inning to open up a 3-0 lead.
A LASER Solo HR for Omar Martinez! 💥 pic.twitter.com/eBu7SQKWiJ
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) April 14, 2024
Cam Schlittler was cruising until the bottom of the fourth when he allowed a three-run home run to E.J. Exposito to tie the game at 3-3 after the inning was extended by an error. Schlittler finished 5.0 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on two hits, walking four and striking out five.
Hudson Valley struck back with three in the top of the sixth off Shay Schanaman (0-1). Garrett Martin doubled, Rafael Flores walked, and Kiko Romero drove in Martin with a single. After a walk to Cole Gabrielson, Riggio brought in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Serna chased home another on a sac fly to extend the gap to 6-3.
In the second game of the twin bill, Riggio finished 2-for-2 with a run scored, a triple, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base.
Cole Ayers earned his first save of the season by tossing 2.0 scoreless innings and striking out four to seal the win and the doubleheader split.
The Renegades enjoy an off day on Monday before returning home to Heritage Financial Park on Tuesday, April 16 for their home opener against the Aberdeen IronBirds. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with coverage beginning on the Renegades Baseball Network at 6:15 with the Heritage Financial Credit Union Pregame Show. To purchase tickets, slide to www.hvrenegades.com/tickets.