Renegades Repel Yankees 4-3 for Win
Hudson Valley (23-13) earned their sixth straight victory, reaching a new season high, with the win over the Yankees (14-22). The 'Gades reached a two-game lead over the Brooklyn Cyclones in the McNamara Division of the New York-Penn League.
The Renegades struck first in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Joey Rickard led off, and was plunked by Yankees starter Andrew Benak (1-3). Third baseman Leonardo Reginatto walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Second baseman Tommy Coyle grounded into a fielder's choice that extinguished Reginatto and left runners at the corners with one away. Designated hitter Richie Shaffer lifted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score Rickard on the sacrifice fly. The Renegades took a 1-0 lead to the bottom of the inning.
Staten Island evened the score in the bottom of the frame against Renegades starter Sean Bierman (4-3). Taylor Dugas led off with a line drive double over left fielder Marty Gantt. Claudio Custodio advanced Dugas to third on a sacrifice bunt, and Saxon Butler bounced out to shortstop, allowing Dugas to score and tie the game at 1-1.
Hudson Valley moved ahead in the top of the fourth. Reginatto singled to left field, and moved up to second on a ground out by Coyle. A wild pitch from Benak advanced Reginatto to third, and Shaffer singled him home to give the 'Gades the 2-1 lead.
The Renegades extended their advantage in the top of the fifth. First baseman Luke Maile led off with a double to left fielder, and moved up to third on a groundout by right fielder Joel Caminero. Gantt laced a single up the middle that brought home Maile, and moved the lead to 3-1.
The Renegades tacked on a much-needed insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, the 'Gades had Jake DePew at third and Joey Rickard at first. Reliever Derek Varnadore fired a pickoff to first base that Saxon Butler misplayed, allowing DePew to scamper home and run the lead to 4-1.
The Yankees made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Butler and Matt Snyder hit consecutive singles off reliever Marcus Jensen to lead off the frame, and a force out by Peter O'Brien advanced Butler to third. Fu-Lin Kuo lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that made the score 4-2 with a runner on first and two outs. Jamiel Orozco hit a single to right field that advanced O'Brien to third. Daniel Lopez hit a soft grounder to the right side that Jensen flubbed, allowing O'Brien to score and moving Orozco to second. With the tying run in scoring position, Jensen induced a ground out from Danny Oh to end the threat and the ballgame.
Bierman picked up his third straight win, allowing a run on three hits over six innings while striking out two. Jose Molina allowed a hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning, fanning two. Kris Carlson dealt 1.1 perfect frames with two strikeouts. Jensen earned his sixth save, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over one inning.
Benak took the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits and a walk over 4.1 innings; he struck out two. Varnadore gave up an unearned run on two hits against three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Charles Haslup pitched a perfect ninth for the Yankees.
The Renegades will look for their seventh straight win Wednesday against the Tri-City ValleyCats. Reinaldo Lopez will get the start for the 'Gades, with first pitch coming at 7:05 p.m. Ben Gellman's pregame show starts at 6:50 p.m., and you can catch all the action on 1450 and 1370 AM WKIP as well as online at HVRenegades.com.