Déjà Vu…In Reverse

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY- It was another pitchers' duel at Dutchess Stadium Thursday night, but this time it was the Renegades who held on for a 2-1 win as the weather held off. It was Hudson Valley's first series win since a three-game sweep of the Brooklyn Cyclones in June.
The Renegades drew first blood by plating a run in the second. Rightfielder Angel Perez led off the inning with a line drive triple over the head of counterpart Sandy Santos of West Virginia. The ball ticked off his glove as he leapt to try and make the catch. The ball rolled to the wall and Perez made it to third with no one out. The next hitter, leftfielder Oscar Rojas, brought home Perez on a groundout to short and the Renegades had a 1-0 lead.
The Renegades had a chance to blow the game open in the fifth as a walk, fielder's choice and hit batsman loaded the bases with two out. However, Perez grounded back to the pitcher to end the threat.
West Virginia would tie the game in the sixth. Two walks and two strikeouts put runners at first and second with two out when leftfielder Lucas Tancas grounded a single just off the glove of Renegades shortstop Taylor Walls into centerfield to score centerfielder Michael de la Cruz from second and tie the game at one.
Hudson Valley retook the lead in the bottom-half. With two outs and first baseman Matt Eureste at first following a walk, second baseman Vidal Brujan roped a triple of his own off the rightfield wall to score Eureste and give the Renegades a 2-1 lead.
The Renegades bullpen was scintillating from there as they retired 10 of the last 12 hitters they faced. Aaron Gist pitched a scoreless seventh, Sam Long in the eighth, and closer Zack Mozingo tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many appearances.
Each team had six hits. Brujan and Perez each had two for the Renegades with each registering a triple. Brujan drove in a run and Perez scored once. Tancas finished with two singles and an RBI for the Black Bears.
Gist (1-0) wound up with the win even though he allowed a run on two hits in two frames. He also walked two and struck out three. Black Bears reliever Beau Sulser (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up a run on a hit in two innings with three strikeouts.
Both starters were great again as Drew Strotman of the Renegades tossed five scoreless innings on three hits. He walked none and struck out six. West Virginia starter Sergio Cubilete allowed a run on four hits in five innings of work while walking three.
Hudson Valley now welcomes the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to town for the first of a three-game series tomorrow. First-pitch is slated for 7:05. Renegades right-hander Nick Padilla (0-1, 1.20 ERA) will take on righty Felix Tati (1-2, 3.72 ERA) of the Scrappers. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.