Unlucky 13

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY- Hudson Valley batters struck out 13 times and its fielders committed four errors in a 4-1 loss to Staten Island Sunday evening at Dutchess Stadium in front of 4,168 fans. For the series, the Renegades have committed six errors while registering only seven hits. The Yankees, meanwhile, moved to within two games of Hudson Valley for first place in the McNamara Division.

The game was a pitcher's duel and remained scoreless into the fifth inning before the Yankees would break out on top. Shortstop David Metzgar started the inning with a walk, then moved to third on a bloop single to right by designated hitter Josh Smith. After a strikeout, third baseman Andres Chaparro lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Metzgar and give Staten Island a 1-0 lead.

Things stayed that way until the sixth when Hudson Valley got a little luck to push a run across. Back-to-back singles from centerfielder Garrett Hiott and designated hitter Pedro Diaz started the inning. Second baseman Ben Troike would lay down a sacrifice bunt before shortstop Greg Jones struck out to leave Hiott at third and Diaz at second with two away. Leftfielder K.V. Edwards stood in next and worked the count to 3-2 before coaxing a walk from Yankees starting pitcher Alfredo Garcia. However, on the pitch, Diaz forgot a base was open and took off for third. He got caught in a rundown but ran into Chaparro. Obstruction was called on the Staten Island third baseman, which gave Diaz third and advanced Hiott home to tie the game at one.

It wouldn't last as Staten Island took the lead for good with a run in the seventh. With two out and second baseman Ezequiel Duran at first, he would steal second then move to third on an errant throw from Hudson Valley catcher Jonathan Embry. After a walk to Chaparro, Renegades reliever Joe LaSorsa was brought into the game and allowed an RBI single to right from centerfielder Jake Sanford to push the Yankees ahead.

More poor Renegades defense lead to two Yankees insurance runs in the ninth. Shortstop David Metzgar started the inning with a groundball single to left, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Smith. With one away, Duran reached on an infield single to short to advance Metzgar to third before Chaparro grounded what could have been an inning-ending double play to third baseman Nick Sogard. However, Sogard kicked the ball into leftfield to score Metzgar while Duran went to second. Sanford came up next and hit a swinging bunt up the third base line. LaSorsa fielded the ball and threw wide of first and down the rightfield line to score Duran and give the Yankees a 4-1 lead. Sanford was credited with an infield single while LaSorsa was charged a throwing error.

That was all Staten Island's pitchers would need as they struck out 13 Renegades for the game. Garcia (1-1) was brilliant in getting the win. He went six innings, allowed three hits, surrendered an unearned run and struck out eight. The loss went to Hudson Valley's Daiveyon Whittle (0-2) who allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in 4.1 innings. He also struck out four. Reliever Justin Wilson of the Yankees struck out the side in the ninth for his first save.

Staten Island had eight hits as Sanford, Smith and Metzgar each had two singles. Metzgar scored twice, while Sanford drove in a run. Hudson Valley finished with four hits, as Hiott and Diaz each collected two singles with Hiott scoring the Gades lone run.

The Renegades wrap up their series and homestand with the Yankees tomorrow in a 7:05 start. Southpaw Ben Brecht (1.0, 1.62 ERA) will take the hill for the Renegades against righty Alex Mejias (2-0, 2.25 ERA) of the Yankees. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com, at the Dutchess Stadium ticket window, or by calling the ticket office at (845) 838-0094.