Yankees Have 'Gades Number

STATEN ISLAND, NY-Despite three hits and two RBI from Major League rehabber Tommy Pham, the Hudson Valley Renegades lost their first game post All-Star Break with a 5-3 defeat to the Staten Island Yankees at Bank One Ballpark Wednesday night. With the loss, Hudson Valley falls to 0-4 against Staten Island and saw its lead in the McNamara Division shrink to two games.
The Renegades started the scoring in the first inning as Pham, playing leftfield, lined a one-out single to right, went to second on a walk to catcher Chris Betts, then scored on a two-out RBI single to right by first-baseman Jacson McGowan to give Hudson Valley a 1-0 lead.
However, the Yankees came storming back with two runs in the bottom-of-the-first. With two out and a runner at second, designated hitter Kyle Gray blasted his fourth homerun of the year over the rightfield wall off of Renegades starter Nick Padilla to put Staten Island ahead 2-1.
Hudson Valley tied the game in the second when Pham singled home shortstop Ford Proctor from third on a lined single to center. But the Yankees would take the lead for good in the third when centerfielder Alex Junior led off with a double to right, went to third on a sac bunt, then touched home on a groundout to short from catcher Josh Breaux to make the score 3-2 Yankees.
The Baby Bombers added another run in the fourth as, with runners at second and third with one out, first-baseman Eric Wagaman lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring in second-baseman Jesus Bastidas to up the Yankees lead to 4-2.
The Renegades scored their final run when Pham belted a one-out, solo homer to center in the fifth inning to pull the Renegades to within one. However, the Yankees got the run right back in the bottom-half on another sacrifice fly, this one by Gray, to right to make the final count 5-3.
That was enough for Staten Island's top-ranked pitching staff as Shawn Semple (3-3) got the win by allowing three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings with five strikeouts. Aaron McGarity earned his second saving by tossing 3.1 frames of scoreless baseball on two hits. The loss fell to Padilla (2-5) who allowed five runs over five innings on seven hits.
Offensively, Staten Island got two hits apiece from shortstop Eduardo Torrealba and Bastidas. Torrealba scored twice, while Bastidas touched home once. Gray finished the game with three RBI and a run scored.
In his lone game for Hudson Valley, Pham went 3-4 with a dinger, two runs and two RBI. McGowan chipped in with two singles and an RBI.   
The Renegades return to Dutchess Stadium tomorrow for the back-end of their home-and-home series against the Yankees beginning at 7:05. Right-hander Joe Ryan (1-1, 5.01 ERA) will be on the hill for Hudson Valley against fellow righty Harold Cortijio (3-1, 2.27 ERA) for the Staten Island. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.