Sloppy and Bullied

Four Errors and a Tough Cyclones Pen Dooms Gades

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY—The Hudson Valley Renegades committed four errors and squandered a bases-loaded, nobody out situation in the eighth as they dropped the rubber game of a three-game series to the Brooklyn Cyclones 4-2 Friday evening at Dutchess Stadium.  The game was witnessed by a season-high 5,094 fans.

The Cyclones started the scoring with a run in the first.  Centerfielder Jake Mangum led off the game by reaching on a fielding error by Renegades shortstop Kevin Santiago.  After a groundout moved him to second, shortstop Wilmer Reyes picked up an RBI on a lined shot to right center, just past centerfielder K.V. Edwards.

However, it was a three-run second inning that allowed Brooklyn to take control of the game thanks, in part, to three Hudson Valley errors.  With one out, singles by catcher Jose Mena and rightfielder Raul Beracierta put runners at the corners as Bercierta’s infield single to short was thrown away by Santiago and moved Mena from first to third.  Beracierta would then steal second, and the throw by Hudson Valley catcher Jordyn Muffley went into centerfield, which allowed Mena to score and Beracierta to take third. Mangum followed by lifting sacrifice fly to center to up the score to 3-0.  Third baseman Chandler Avant stood in next and reached second on an infield single to third and errant throw by Mason Mallard.  Reyes followed, and lobbed a single into shallow left to score Avant and give the Cyclones a four-run lead.

Hudson Valley would come back with two of their own in the third.  With one down, Edwards laid down a bunt single to third then stole second.  After a popup, Mallard was hit with a pitch and leftfielder Beau Brundage roped a single to center to score Edwards and put the Renegades on the board.  Brooklyn starting pitcher Daniel Goggin would then yield back-to-back walks to first baseman Jacson McGowan and designated hitter Luis Trevino to force in a run and pull the Renegades to within two.

The Renegades had a chance to tie the game, and perhaps take the lead in the eighth when they loaded the bases with no one out on the strength of three consecutive singles.  However, Cyclones reliever Matt Mullenbach came on and proceeded to strike out Muffley, pinch hitter Nick Sogard, and Edwards swinging to get Brooklyn out of the jam unscathed.

That was pretty much Hudson Valley’s last chance as Mullenbach retired the Gades in order in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.  He tossed two innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts.  The win went to fellow reliever Jared Biddy (1-0) who went 2.1 scoreless and struck out four on a hit.  The loss fell to Renegades starter Evan McKendry (2-1) who gave up four runs, two earned, on seven hits over three frames.  Hudson Valley’s bullpen allowed only one baserunner over the final six innings.

The Cyclones collected eight hits with Reyes leading the way in a 2-4 effort with a double and two RBI.  The Renegades, meanwhile, had seven hits for the contest.

The Renegades now head to Lowell where they will take on the Spinners in a three-game series beginning tomorrow at 5:05.  Hudson Valley will throw right-hander Zack Trageton (4-2, 2.51 ERA) against Spinners righty Yusniel Padron-Artilles (4-0, 2.12 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.