Hot Hitting on Hot Day

Gades Pummel Spinners on Scorching Saturday

LOWELL, MA—Despite playing in 94 degrees of unrelenting heat and humidity, the Hudson Valley Renegades tied a season-high by banging out 16 hits in a 12-3 win over the Lowell Spinners Saturday evening at LeLacheur Park.

The Renegades used big innings as they only scored in three frames.  It started with a three-run third as centerfielder Garrett Hiott drilled a one out, solo homer to right for his first dinger of the season to put Hudson Valley on the board.  Shortstop Nick Sogard would follow with a lined single to right and a stolen base before designated hitter Greg Jones roped a double to right to bring him in.  First baseman Jacson McGowan stood in next and drove a double into right to score Jones and give Hudson Valley a 3-0 lead.

They added five more in the fourth.  Singles from leftfielder K.V. Edwards and third baseman Luis Arcendo started the inning before Hiott ripped another single to right to plate Edwards and move Arcendo to third.  Hiott proceeded to steal second and Sogard drew a walk to load the bases when Jones grounded into a fielder’s choice to second to bring Arcendo home.  Like Hiott, Jones stole second and set the stage for McGowan who knocked a two-run single into center to make the score 7-0.  After a walk and fly out, second baseman Cristhian Pedroza grounded a ball to short that appeared would end the inning.  However, Spinners shortstop Cameron Cannon booted the ball into center to score Jones from second and up Hudson Valley’s lead to eight.

Hudson Valley capped their scoring by adding four more runs in the eighth.  Singles by Hiott and Sogard started the inning before Cannon made another error, this time on a grounder by Jones into centerfield, to score Hiott and move Sogard to second.  With runners at first and second and nobody out, a groundout moved Sogard and Jones up a base.  Catcher Luis Trevino followed by reaching on an infield single to short to plate Sogard and advance Jones to third as the Renegades took a 10-0 lead.  Rightfielder Hill Alexander came up next and scalded a double to center as Jones trotted home and Trevino went to third.   The final run for Hudson Valley came on a sacrifice fly to right by Pedroza to make the score 12-0.

Lowell would get all their runs in the bottom of the eighth.  A single to center by second baseman Antoni Flores was followed by a double to left from first baseman Ricardo Cubillan to put runners at second and third to start the inning.  Centerfielder Luke Bandy followed by lifting a double to center to score both runners.  After a popup and groundout, leftfielder Marino Campana capped the scoring on a lined single to left to score Bandy from second and make the final 12-3.

Of the nine batters in the Hudson Valley lineup, six had two hits or more.  Hiott and Jones led the way with three hits apiece.  Hiott homered, drove in two and scored three more, while Jones doubled, scored three times and registered two RBI.   Sogard, McGowan, Trevino and Arcendo each had two hits.  Sogard scored twice, McGowan drove in three with a double and run scored, Trevino scored once and drove in another, and Arcendo scored once while picking up two singles.

The Spinners collected nine hits with Cubillan going 2-4 with a double, triple, and run scored.  Nick Decker chipped in with two singles to aid the Lowell attack.

Getting the win for Hudson Valley was starting pitcher Zack Trageton (5-2) who tossed six shutout innings among three hits with eight punchouts.  The loss fell to Yusniel Padron-Artilles (4-1) who gave up three earned runs on six hits over three frames with six strikeouts.

The Renegades will go for the series win as they will take on the Spinners in game two of the three-game set tomorrow at 5:05.  Hudson Valley will throw right-hander Daiveyon Whittle (0-0, 0.41 ERA) against Spinners southpaw Chris Murphy (0-0, 0.00 ERA). 

Hudson Valley returns home on Tuesday, July 23^rd when they kick-off a three-game series against the Vermont Lake Monsters.  First-pitch is scheduled for 7:05.  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.