Renegades Go K-Zone on Lake Monsters

[Empty Body]

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY-Hudson Valley pitchers struck out a season-high 18 hitters, and Renegades batters used a couple of timely wild pitches by Lake Monsters hurlers, to defeat Vermont 3-2 in 10 innings Saturday night at Dutchess Stadium.
The Renegades had a couple of opportunities to score early. They had runners at the corners with no one out in the first, but shortstop Taylor Walls fouled out to third and designated hitter Brendan McKay grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. In the second, they had runners at first and second with two away before first baseman Matt Eureste flew out to left to end the inning.
The Lake Monsters struck first in the third. Second baseman Jesus Lage started the inning with a triple to center. The next hitter, third baseman Javier Godard, drove him in on a sacrifice fly to right that was dropped by Renegades rightfielder Angel Perez to make the score 1-0 Vermont.
Hudson Valley would tie the game in the fourth. With two out and Perez at first, leftfielder Isaac Benard launched and RBI triple to left-centerfield to score Perez and tie the game at one apiece.
Things stayed that way until the sixth as Hudson Valley took the lead. Walls started the inning with a walk, then went to third on a single off the rightfield wall by McKay. However, the next two men popped out and it looked like the Renegades would come up empty again. However, Benard stepped in again and grounded a hard single off the backhand of Lake Monsters shortstop Kevin Merrell. Walls scored on the play and the Renegades had a 2-1 lead.
Vermont had a chance to tie the game as they started the inning with back-to-back singles. However, Hudson Valley reliever Matt Vogel struck out the next three men he faced swinging to end the threat.
Hudson Valley had a chance to add an insurance run in the seventh third baseman Deion Tansel led off the inning with a double down the leftfield line, then went to third on a groundout. With one away however, Brujan fouled out to third and Chester struck out and the Renegades' lead stayed at one.
That would come back to bite Hudson Valley as Vermont tied the game in the ninth. Renegades closer Hunter Schryver started the inning by hitting designated hitter Logan Farrar with a pitch. Rightfielder Greg Deichmann followed and laced an opposite field double to left-center to score Farrar and tie the game at two.
The Lake Monsters had a chance to take the lead in the tenth as they loaded the bases thanks to three walks by Renegades reliever Hector Lopez. But Lopez was able to get Deichmann to pop out to short to end the inning.
So came the bottom of the tenth, and the Renegades needed some luck to walk off with a win. With one out and nobody on base, Brujan hit a little flair into shallow right. Lage and Deichmann converged on the play for Vermont, but a miscommunication allowed the ball to drop and Brujan took second on the cheap double. After Chester reached on a throwing error, Hudson Valley had runners at first and second with one out. Lake Monsters reliever Michael Danielak would proceed to throw two wild pitches to Walls. The first allowed Brujan to go to third, while the second one allowed Brujan to score the game-winning run as the Renegades won the game 3-2.
Hudson Valley had nine hits on the night. Benard led the way by going 2-4 with a triple and two RBI. Brujan went 2-5 with a double, single and run scored, while Tansel finished 2-3 with a double. Vermont, meanwhile, had five hits including a 2-5 night by Deichmann who doubled and drove in a run.
Getting the win for Hudson Valley was Lopez (1-4) who was probably the least effective pitcher of the evening for the Renegades. He walked three and struck out no one, but did not give up any runs in his lone inning of relief. The win went to Danielak (1-1) of the Lake Monsters, who deserved a better fate. He gave up the winning earned run on a hit in 0.1 innings, while uncorking two wild pitches.
Of the 18 strikeouts by Renegades pitchers, seven came from starting pitcher Tobias Myers who made his debut as a Renegade after being traded by the Orioles earlier in the week for former number one overall pick, and former Renegades, Tim Beckham. Myers allowed only one hit and an earned run in five frames, while walking none.
Vogel was great, striking out seven in only 2.2 innings of work and gave up no runs. Though he blew the save, Schryver finished with three strikeouts and two hits allowed in 1.1 innings.
The Renegades their series against the Vermont Lake Monsters tomorrow at 5:05. Southpaw Brendan McKay (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for the Renegades against fellow lefty Ivan Andueza (5-2, 3.27 ERA) of the Lake Monsters. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.