Yankees Trip Up 'Gades

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY- The Staten Island Yankees scored eight runs on 10 hits over the final three innings as they defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades 8-4 Tuesday night at Dutchess Stadium
The Renegades drew first blood in the third when leftfielder started the inning by reaching on a throwing error from Yankees third-baseman Andres Chaparro off of a grounder. Brown proceeded to steal second, then move to third on the play off of a throwing error from catcher Josh Breaux. Shortstop Ford Proctor followed with an RBI single to right-center to score Brown and give Hudson Valley a 1-0 lead.
The home team tacked on two more insurance runs in the fourth. One night after rightfielder Jordan Qsar belted a three-run homer to give the Renegades the lead, the former Pepperdine Wave smoked a solo-shot to leftfield to make the score 2-0. It was Qsar's third homer of the season, and second of the series. Later in the inning, with Brown at second and two away, centerfielder Michael Smith roped a single to center to bring in Brown and up the Renegades' lead to 3-0.
But after being held scoreless over their last 25 innings, the Yankees exploded with three runs to tie the game in the seventh. Singles by Breaux and leftfielder Canaan Smith started the inning before second-baseman Kyle Gray ripped a double to left-center to bring in Breaux and move Smith to third. Shortstop Jesus Bastidas followed with a single to center to score Smith, then first-baseman Eric Wagaman lined a sac-fly to center to plate Gray and tie the game at three.
However, Hudson Valley would turn the tide by retaking the lead in the bottom-half. Smith looped a double down the leftfield line to start the inning, then scored when Proctor grounded a single to left. The RBI was his second of the game, and gave the Renegades a one-run lead.
The Yankees would not give up though. With two out and a runner at first in the eighth, Smith stood in and drilled a two-run homerun over the rightfield wall to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead; their first lead of the series. The homerun was Smith's third of the season, and second against the 'Gades.
Staten Island then put the game away with three more runs in the ninth. With two outs and runners at the corners, Renegades pitcher Jack Labosky was errant on a pickoff attempt at first, which allowed the runner to score from third and moved the other runner to second. From there, centerfielder Alex Junior ripped a single to center to bring in a run, then designated hitter Chris Gittens smoked a double to center to score Junior and make the final 8-4.
Getting the win for Staten Island was reliever Aaron McGarity (2-0) even though he allowed a go-ahead run on five hits over two innings while striking out three. The loss fell to Hudson Valley relief man Jesus Ortiz (3-2) who gave up the two-run dinger to Smith for the go-ahead runs. Relief man Garrett Mundell tossed the final two scoreless innings with three strikeouts for his fourth save of the season.
The Renegades had 13 hits in the contest. Smith went 3-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored. Proctor finished 4-5 with a double and two RBI.
The Yankees, meanwhile, had 12 hits in the game. Junior went 2-5 with a double, RBI and run scored. Breaux went 3-5 with two runs, and Smith finished 2-4 with his two run homer and two runs scored.
Hudson Valley hits the road tomorrow for the first of a three-game series against the Brooklyn Cyclones. First-pitch is slated for 7:00. The Renegades will trot out right-hander Miller Hogan (2-3, 4.66 ERA) to the mound against fellow-righty Briam Campusano (3-6, 5.29 ERA) for the Cyclones. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.