ValleyCats Too Much for Renegades

TROY, NY-Two early homers and a fine pitching performance from starter Carlos Hiraldo did the trick as the Tri-City ValleyCats defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades 6-1 Thursday night from Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. With the win, Tri-City at least assured itself of a series win in the three-game set following a victory on Wednesday.
The ValleyCats started the scoring in the first as last night's hero, first-baseman Luis Encarnacion, smacked his seventh homer of the year over the right-centerfield wall. It was a two-run shot to give Tri-City a 2-0 lead.
The Renegades would use the longball to get themselves on the board in the fourth when designated hitter Jacson McGowan belted his second dinger of the season. It was a solo-shot to right-center to cut the deficit in half.
However, Tri-City plated the next two runs to take control of the game. Again a round-tripper was employed, this time in the fifth, when designated hitter Nathan Perry sent a solo homerun to right to extend the ValleyCats' lead to two. In the sixth, second-baseman Emmanuel Valdez led off with a walk, went to third on a single to left by centerfielder Alex McKenna, then scored on a passed ball from Renegades catcher Erik Ostberg to make the score 4-1.
The ValleyCats would then plate two more runs in the seventh to put the game away. With one out, shortstop Trey Dawson grounded a single to right, then went to third when third-baseman Michael Wielansky roped a double to center. Valdez followed with a ground out to first to bring in Dawson, before McKenna slashed a single to right to score Wielansky and finish the scoring.
Tri-City was actually outhit 9-8, but they banged out two homers and a double in the process. McKenna singled twice and drove in a run, while rightfielder Carlos Machado went 2-4 with a run scored. Leading the Renegades was third-baseman Tyler Frank, who had two singles and a double while going 3-5. Ostberg chipped in with two more singles for Hudson Valley.
Getting the win for Tri-City was Hiraldo (3-0) who allowed one run on six hits in five innings with four strikeouts. Though he pitched well, Hudson Valley starting pitcher Joe Ryan (1-1) was tagged with the loss after he allowed two runs on only two hits in four frames. He also struck out four. Reliever Jesus Ortiz had a rough game for the Renegades as he allowed four runs on six hits in three innings.

The Renegades take on the ValleyCats in game two of their three-game series tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Righty Miller Hogan (2-1, 4.74 ERA) will take the hill for Hudson Valley against righty Shawn Dubin (1-0, 4.96 ERA) for Tri-City.
Hudson Valley returns home on Saturday when they kickoff a two-game series and homestand against the Aberdeen Ironbirds. First-pitch is slated for 6:05 and will include a fireworks show following the game. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.