King of the Hill

Alexander Leads Renegades Over Ironbirds

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY—Rightfielder Hill Alexander collected three hits as the Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Aberdeen Ironbirds 5-1 Sunday evening in front of 4,907 fans from Dutchess Stadium.  The victory gave the Renegades the rubber-game over the Ironbirds and was Hudson Valley’s second consecutive series win.

Aberdeen started the scoring in the second inning when first-baseman Alex Murphy blasted a solo-homerun down the leftfield line to put the Ironbirds on the board.  It was Murphy’s first homerun of the season.

The Renegades, though, would come back with two runs in the bottom-half.  Alexander doubled to right while shortstop Nick Sogard reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners with two away.  With leftfielder Pedro Diaz at the plate, Sogard was caught in a run down between first and second on a pickoff attempt.  Ironbirds pitcher Leonardo Rodriguez failed to cover first in the rundown, which allowed Sogard to scamper back safely while Alexander raced home to tie the game.  After Diaz was hit with a pitch to put Sogard at second, third baseman Luis Arcendo lined a single to bring him in and give the Renegades the lead.

Things stayed that way until the sixth when Hudson Valley scored three more times to put the game away.  A single, walk and hit-batsman loaded the bases with two out.  Designated hitter Greg Jones drew a four-pitch bases-loaded walk to force in a run, before  Alexander came up next and grounded a two-run single into center to make the score 5-1.

That was enough for Hudson Valley’s pitchers as starter Edisson Gonzalez and relievers Joe LaSorsa and Hector Figueroa combined to strike out 11 Ironbirds.  LaSorsa (1-0) got the win as the Katonah, N.Y. native fired three innings of shutout ball on one hit.  Gonzalez went the first four innings and struck out eight.  The loss fell to Aberdeen’s Rodriguez (0-1) who allowed two runs on four hits over five frames.  The right-hander also struck out seven.

The Renegades registered seven hits amongst three players.  Alexander led the way by going 3-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.  Sogard finished 2-4 with a double and two runs.  Arcendo, meanwhile, went 2-4 with two singles, a stolen base and an RBI.

Aberdeen collected six hits.  Murphy singled in addition to his solo-homer while going 2-4.  Centerfielder Johnny Rizer also finished 2-4 with a couple of singles.

Hudson Valley will be off tomorrow before embarking on a six-game road-trip starting with the first of a three-game series Tuesday against the Staten Island Yankees.  First-pitch is scheduled for 7:00.  Righty Daiveyon Whittle (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch for the Renegades against fellow-righty Nick Green (0-2, 2.08 ERA) of the Yankees. 

The Renegades return home on Monday, July 1^st when they open a three-game series against the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com, in person at the Dutchess Stadium ticket window, or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.