Renegades Punch Out 14 Doubledays in Win

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY—Hudson Valley pitchers tied a season-high with 14 strikeouts as the Renegades defeated the Auburn Doubledays 7-5 Wednesday evening from Dutchess Stadium in front of 3,211 fans.

The Renegades got the ball rolling with two runs in the first.  Shortstop Greg Jones led off with a triple down the leftfield line, then scored on an RBI groundout to second from third baseman Nick Sogard.  Centerfielder Garrett Hiott followed with a single to center, then moved to third on a two base throwing error off a failed pickoff attempt from Auburn starting pitcher Niomar Gomez.  First baseman Jacson McGowan then grounded an RBI single into center to give Hudson Valley a 2-0 lead.

The home team would use its speed to add to the lead in the third.  Jones started the frame with an infield single to third. 

After a walk to Sogard moved him to second, Hiott grounded into a fielder’s choice to second to put runners at the corners with one away.  That’s when Hudson Valley pulled off a double steal as Hiott raced for second and Jones broke for home on the throw. The steal of home was the third of the season for the Renegades as they took a 3-0 lead.

However, sloppy play by the Renegades allowed the Doubledays to come back and tie the game with three in the fourth.  A walk to designated hitter Ricardo Mendez started the inning.  Following a strikeout, rightfielder Eric Senior lifted a flyball to left that was lost in the lights by Beau Brundage and fell for a double.  With runners at second and third, catcher Wilmer Perez drove in a run with a groundout to second while Senior moved to third.  Shortstop Jose Sanchez came up next and lined a single to left-center to pull the Doubledays to within one.  With a runner at first and two out, second baseman J. T. Arruda grounded to Sogard (now moved to short) and the ball was thrown away for an error, which allowed Sanchez to take third. First baseman Albert Carrillo followed with an RBI single to left and the game was tied at three.

But the Renegades would come back with three more in the bottom-half to retake the lead.  Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with one away.  Third baseman Mason Mallard, batting for an injured Jones, roped a two-run single to center to give Hudson Valley a 5-3 lead.  With runners at the corners and one away, Sogard drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to second and the Renegades upped their lead to three.

They added another run in the fifth thanks to more pitching struggles from Auburn.  With one out, Brundage was hit with a pitch, then advanced to second, third and home on three wild pitches from Doubledays reliever Trey Turner.

Auburn would get two runs back without getting the ball out of the infield in the seventh.  After a strikeout started the inning, leftfielder Landerson Pena reached on an infield single to third.  Third baseman Jack Dunn came up next and reached on a bunt single, before a throwing error from Renegades relief man Andrew Gross off the bat of Mendez loaded the bases.  Centerfielder Jeremy Ydens drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to second, then Senior reached on another single to third to plate run number three as the Doubledays brought the score to 7-5.

From there, Gross got a fielder’s choice from Perez to end the inning.  After a 1-2-3 eighth, Gross notched a strikeout and gave up a single to start the ninth.  Mendez then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

Getting the win for Hudson Valley was reliever Colby White (1-0) who tossed two hitless innings and struck out five of the seven men he faced.  Gomez (1-3) suffered the loss for Auburn as he allowed seven runs on six hits over 4.2 innings.  He also walked three and struck out four.  Despite the two unearned runs and not qualifying for a save, Gross registered four strikeouts over three frames.  Starter John Doxakis began the game for Hudson Valley with three scoreless innings on a hit with five strikeouts.

The Renegades were actually outhit 8-7.  Before leaving the game, Jones went 2-2 to lead the attack with a triple, stolen base and two runs scored.  Senior finished 2-4 with a double, run and RBI for the Doubledays.  Dunn chipped in by going 2-4 on a run and two singles.

Hudson Valley finishes its three-game series with Auburn in a 7:05 start tomorrow.  It will be right-hander Nathan Wiles (2-0, 3.00 ERA) going for the Renegades against fellow-righty Carlos Romero (0-2, 3.55 ERA) of 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.