Pitchers and Pedro Seal Series

Renegades Shutout Ironbirds to Take Rubber-Game

ABERDEEN, MD—The Hudson Valley Renegades used a crucial two-out, two-run single from leftfielder Pedro Diaz and a five-hit gem from three pitchers to top the Aberdeen Ironbirds 3-0 Sunday afternoon from Leidos Park at Ripken Stadium.  With the win, the Renegades take two of the three-game set.  It was the first series loss for the Ironbirds since losing two of three to the Tri-City ValleyCats June 28-30.

The Renegades were held hitless until the fifth when they put two runs on the board to surge ahead.  Designated hitter Luis Trevino started the inning with a walk before scampering to third on a one-out, groundball single to center from catcher Jordyn Muffley.  On the play, the throw from Ironbirds centerfielder Shayne Fontana went to third, which also allowed Muffley to take second.  After second baseman Cristhian Pedroza struck out swinging for out number two, it was Diaz who lined a 1-2 pitch from reliever Kyle Martin into leftfield to score Trevino and Muffley to give the Renegades a 2-0 lead.

Aberdeen had a chance to get back into the game in the seventh after a single and throwing error from Hudson Valley shortstop Greg Jones put runners at first and second with two out.  However, Renegades relief man Chris Gau got third baseman Craig Lewis to ground out to third and end the inning.

Hudson Valley would plate an insurance run in the ninth.  Rightfielder Beau Brundage led off the inning with a walk, before moving to second on a single to right from first baseman Jacson McGowan.  After a double-play ball from Trevino moved Brundage to third with two away, third baseman Ben Troike roped an RBI single to center to up the Renegades’ lead to 3-0.

In the bottom of the ninth, closer Jose Roca allowed two singles to start the inning then got a groundout to first, a strikeout, and a grounder to second to earn the shutout for Hudson Valley.

The win went to Gau (2-4) who went five scoreless innings on two hits after starter Ben Brecht opened the game with two innings of shutout ball.  The save from Roca was his first of the season as he allowed two singles in two innings of work.  The loss fell to Ironbirds starter Dan Hammer (0-1) as he allowed two earned runs on a single hit in 4.1 frames.  He also walked three and struck out five.  Both runs scored off Hammer were inherited runners as Martin allowed the go-ahead single to Diaz.

There were only 11 hits in the game as Hudson Valley collected six of them.  Nobody had more than one base-knock for the Renegades.  Aberdeen had five hits with catcher Adley Rutschman collecting two singles in four at-bats to lead the Ironbirds’ attack.

Hudson Valley will be off tomorrow before kicking off a six-game homestand against the Auburn Doubledays in a 7:05 start Tuesday.  It will be the beginning of the longest homestand this season for the Renegades.  Hudson Valley will send righty Rodolfo Sanchez (1-0, 3.24 ERA) to the hill against a to-be-determined pitcher for the Doubledays.  Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com, at the Dutchess Stadium ticket window, or by calling the ticket office at (845) 838-0094.