Tri-City Drops Renegades 5-4 in 10 Innings
The Renegades blew an early three-run lead but forced extra innings with a run in the ninth, only to give up the winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth. Hudson Valley now trails Tri-City 1-0 in the best-of-three LCS, which shifts back to Dutchess Stadium Wednesday.
Hudson Valley opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Joey Rickard led off the ballgame with a double on the first pitch he saw from Tri-City starter Juri Perez. Second baseman Tommy Coyle dribbled a grounder to the right side of the infield that Catfish Elkins booted at second base; the error allowed Rickard to reach third and Coyle to reach first. After third baseman Richie Shaffer popped out for the first out, catcher Luke Maile came to the dish. Perez stumbled as he tried to deliver a pitch, and was flagged for a balk; the blunder scored Rickard and advanced Coyle to second base. With a 3-1 count, Maile hammered Perez's pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer that put Hudson Valley up 3-0.
Tri-City struck back in the bottom of the second inning. Tyler Heineman led off with a single up the middle off Hudson Valley starter Eduar Quiñonez, and moved to second on a groundout by M.P. Cokinos. Dan Gulbransen came to the dish, having hit two homers of Quiñonez a week earlier. He came through for the ValleyCats again with a two-run bomb to right field, bringing the score to 3-2.
The ValleyCats surged ahead in the bottom of the third. Joe Sclafani drew a leadoff walk to bring up Elkins, eager to atone for his earlier miscue. The second baseman hammered a Quiñonez fastball over the right-field fence for another two-run homer, giving Tri-City the 4-3 lead.
That was where the score stayed until the top of the ninth. Renegades shortstop Leonardo Reginatto came to the dish with one out against Tri-City righty Vincent Velasquez. Reginatto pounded the 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for a solo home run, tying the game 4-4 and sucking the wind out of the ValleyCats fans.
The 'Gades threatened again in the top of the 10th. Coyle lined a one-out single to right, and moved up to second with two outs when Sclafani mishandled a soft grounder by Maile. First baseman Ryan Dunn worked a deep count against ValleyCats reliever John Neely, but bounced out to Sclafani to end the inning.
Tri-City broke the deadlock in the bottom of the 10th. After Renegades reliever Marcus Jensen got leadoff man Emilio King to ground out to first, he gave up three consecutive singles to Ryan Dineen, Sclafani and Elkins, loading the bases with one away. Preston Tucker lofted a fly ball deep to right field, where it was caught by Joel Caminero. The right fielder fired a laser towards home, but it arrived to late to beat Dineen, who came home with the winning run.
Quiñonez gave up four runs on five hits and three walks in 3.2 innings, whiffing two. Jordan Harrison tossed 3.1 perfect innings of relief, notching four strikeouts. Jensen took the loss, allowing a run on three hits over 2.2 innings.
Perez allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings on three hits and three walks; he struck out four. Velasquez gave up one run on two hits and a walk over 3.1 innings, fanning two. Neely earned the win, allowing two hits against two strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.
The Renegades will try to even the score Wednesday in Game 2 of the LCS at Dutchess Stadium, with righty Jesse Hahn toeing the rubber for Hudson Valley. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m., with Ben Gellman's pregame show starting at 5:50 p.m. on 1450 and 1370 AM WKIP, as well as online at HVRenegades.com.
Great seats at Dutchess Stadium are available for Wednesday's Game 2 of the League Championship Series for the Renegades, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. Hudson Valley would also host a Game 3 on Thursday if necessary. The Renegades are offering NYPL Championship ticket specials: general admission tickets cost just $10 for four, reserved seats are just $5 each, and box seats are only $8 per ticket. Tickets are going fast, so call the ticket office 845-838-0094 for more information, or go to www.hvrenegades.com to order yours now!