Saturday Night Unspecial

Birds Pull Away From ‘Gades

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY—Aberdeen’s pitchers combined to strike out 13 Renegades and used a six-run ninth inning to win going away 11-2 Saturday night in front of 4,874 fans at Dutchess Stadium.

The Renegades scored the game’s first run in the second.  With one out, singles by catcher Jordyn Muffley and centerfielder Garrett Hiott put runners at the corners.  Second-baseman Cristhian Pedroza came up next and lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Muffley and give Hudson Valley a 1-0 lead.

The Ironbirds fought back to take the lead with a two-run fifth.  Two infield singles and a walk loaded the bases with no one out before catcher Jordan Cannon and second-baseman Zach McLeod hit back-to-back sac flies to right to make the score 2-1 Aberdeen.

The visitors added to their lead with two more runs in the seventh.  Leadoff singles by designated hitter Alex Murphy and rightfielder Tristan Graham put runners at first and second.  After pinch-runner Juan Montes moved to third on a popup bunt to put runners at the corners, McLeod picked up his second sac-fly on another drive to right to score Montes.  Centerfielder Johnny Rizer stood in next and ripped a double to left-center to score Graham from first, and up the Ironbirds lead to 4-1.

Aberdeen added their final run in the eighth as leftfielder Jaylen Ferguson eviscerated his third homerun of the season over the leftfield wall.  It was solo shot and gave the Ironbirds a 5-1 lead.

The Ironbirds would put the game away by exploding for six runs in the ninth.  A walk, hit batsmen, and single loaded the bases before a bases-loaded walk to Rizer scored the inning’s first run.  Shortstop Cody Fisher followed with an RBI single to left, then third-baseman Irving Ortega rolled a grounder up the third-base line that was thrown away by Renegades reliever Justin Montgomery.  Two runs scored on the play and the Ironbirds owned a 9-1 lead as the remaining baserunners advanced to second and third on the play.  First-baseman Luke Ringhofer and Ferguson followed with back-to-back RBI groundouts and the score was 11-1.

Hudson Valley would add a meaningless run in the bottom-half.  Hiott started the inning with a groundball double down the rightfield line.  He went to third on a groundout, then scored on an RBI groundout to second from third-baseman Luis Arcendo to make the final 11-2.

Getting the win for Aberdeen was starter Adam Stauffer (1-1) who struck out eight over 5.1 innings on three hits while surrendering only one run.  Though he pitched well, the loss fell to starting Hudson Valley pitcher Chris Gau.  The right-hander gave up two runs on two hits in 5.1 innings while punching out four hitters.

Ironbrids reliever Yelin Rodriguez chipped in by striking out five batters over 2.2 scoreless innings.

Hudson Valley finished with six hits, including a 2-4 performance from Hiott who doubled, stole a base, and scored a run.  Aberdeen, meanwhile, carved out 10 hits.  Graham went 3-3 with three singles, two walks and two runs scored.  Ferguson finished 2-5 with a homer, two RBI, two runs, and a stolen base.

Hudson Valley wraps up its homestand and series with Aberdeen tomorrow in a 4:35 start.  Righty Edisson Gonzalez (0-1, 15.75 ERA) will pitch for the Renegades against fellow-righty Leonardo Rodriguez (0-0, 1.80 ERA) of the Ironbirds.  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.