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WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY-A three-run, ninth inning homerun by designated hitter Brendan McKay, and a walk-off infield single by centerfielder Carl Chester allowed the Renegades to overcome a three-run ninth inning deficit to defeat the Vermont Lake Monsters 6-5 in 10 innings Monday night at Dutchess Stadium. The win allowed Hudson Valley to overcome a blown save after leading 2-1 entering the ninth inning.
Hudson Valley started the scoring by plating two runs in the first inning. Second-baseman Vidal Brujan blooped a single to center, then went to second on a wild pitch by Lake Monsters starting pitcher Oscar Tovar. Centerfielder Carl Chester followed with a groundball single to right to score Brujan and give the Renegades a 1-0 lead. Following a walk to shortstop Taylor Walls to move Chester to second, a groundout to second by designated hitter Brendan McKay moved the runners to second and third. From there, catcher Zac Law skied a sac fly to right to score Chester and make the score 2-0.
The score stayed that way into the seventh as Hudson Valley starting pitcher Mikey York turned in another strong performance. He shut out the Lake Monsters on two hits through five innings to extend his scoreless innings streak to 30.2.
Vermont got on the board in the seventh inning. Third baseman Will Toffey started the inning with a double down the leftfield line. He went to third on a sacrifice bunt by leftfielder Payton Squier, which was mishandled by Renegades first baseman Matt Eureste. The error put runners at the corners with one out. Afterwards, catcher Jarrett Costa grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice to score Toffey and cut Hudson Valley's lead to one.
From there Sam Long and closer Zack Mozingo combined to get through the seventh and eighth innings and it appeared the Renegades would walk away with the win. However, in the ninth, after one out, Mozingo allowed a groundball single to left by Toffey and a groundball single to right by Squier to put runners at the corners with one away. Backup catcher Jordan Devencenzi came to the plate next and lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Toffey and tie the game at two.
But the Lake Monsters weren't done there. With a runner at first and two away, shortstop Kevin Merrell lined a double to left-centerfield to send Squier to third. Second baseman Ryan Gridley came up next and grounded a ball to second, which Brujan booted. The error allowed Squier to score as the Lake Monsters took a 3-2 lead while Merrell went to third. With runners at the corners and two away, centerfielder Logan Farrar launched a double off the rightfield wall to score Merrell and Gridley as Vermont took a 5-2 lead.
However, the Renegades would not give up. In the bottom of the ninth, Lake Monsters closer Wandisson Charles walked two hitters and struck out two hitters. With two on and two out, designated hitter Brendan McKay stepped to the plate and launched a two-strike, three-run homerun over the rightfield wall to tie the game at five. The dinger was McKay's third of the season and snapped an 0-13 skid.
That set the stage for the bottom of the 10th, as more wild pitching by Lake Monsters relievers led to the winning run. With two out and Eureste at first, third baseman Bill Pujols reached on an infield single to third against Vermont reliever Malik Jones. After Brujan drew the second walk of the inning, and 11th of the game by Lake Monsters pitchers, Chester stepped to the plate and grounded a single off the glove of Toffey at third to score Eureste and give the Renegades the 6-5 win.
Hudson Valley finished with nine hits. Chester went 2-5 with two singles, two RBI, and a run scored. Rightfielder Oscar Rojas chipped in with a 2-4 effort, including two singles as well.
Vermont had 10 hits, including a 3-5 effort from Farrar who doubled twice and drove in two runs. Toffey went 2-3 with a double, single and two runs scored, while first baseman Hunter Hargrove chipped in by going 2-5 with a double.
Getting the win for Hudson Valley (2-1) was reliever Garrett Fulenchek, who tossed a scoreless 10th inning while allowing a walk. Taking the loss for Vermont was Jones (0-1) who allowed the game-winning run on two hits. He also walked two.
In addition to the 11 walks, Vermont pitchers also struck out 13 batters. The extra-inning game was the seventh this season for the Renegades; six of them coming at Dutchess Stadium. It was also Hudson Valley's second extra-inning win of the series, as they moved to 4-3 in extra-inning games this season. Furthermore, it was the 12th time in the last 14 games that a Renegades game failed to end in nine innings.
The Renegades now head to State College, PA where they will take on the Spikes in the first of a three-game series tomorrow. First-pitch is at 7:05. The Renegades have not announced their starting pitcher. State College will counter with right-hander Paul Balestrieri (2-1, 4.30 ERA). The Renegades return home on Friday when they open a three-game series against the Brooklyn Cyclones. First-pitch is at 7:05. There will be fireworks following the game. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.
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