J-Mac on the Attack

McGowan’s Three Hits Paces Renegades

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY—First baseman Jacson McGowan led the way with a 3-4 effort, including a double and two RBI, as the Hudson Valley Renegades took the rubber game of a three-game series from the Auburn Doubledays 8-3 Thursday night at Dutchess Stadium in front of 3,438 fans.

The Renegades started the scoring by putting three on the board in the first.  A walk and hit-batsman started the inning before designated hitter Hill Alexander grounded into a fielder’s choice to third.  With runners at the corners and one out, McGowan laced an RBI single to left.  Another walk loaded the bases, which set the stage for shortstop Ben Troike who grounded a single to left to plate another run.  With the bases still loaded, third baseman Mason Mallard lifted a sacrifice fly to center for the final run as Hudson Valley raced out to a 3-0 lead.

Auburn would get a run back in the second.  With two out and nobody aboard, second baseman J.T. Arruda lined a single to right center.  He proceeded to steal second, then scored on an RBI double to right center from first baseman Anthony Peroni.

In the fourth, the Arruda-Peroni duo bit the Renegades again.  With one away, Arruda laced a double down the leftfield line.  Peroni followed with another double to right to bring in Arruda and draw the Doubledays to within one.

But Hudson Valley would put the game away by scoring the game’s next five runs, including two in the fifth.  Hiott started the frame with a walk, then scored on a three-base throwing error by third baseman Jack Dunn on a fielder’s choice attempt off the bat of Alexander, who ended up at second on the play.  McGowan would bring him in with a resounding double to right for his third hit of the game as the Renegades took a 5-2 lead.

They would then add three more in the sixth.  Mallard started things with a single to left, then moved to second on another single to left by leftfielder K.V. Edwards.  Hiott followed with a single to right to score Mallard, while Edwards went to third.  Second baseman Nick Sogard stood in next and lifted a sacrifice fly to right, then Alexander grounded a double down the leftfield line which scored Hiott and upped the Hudson Valley lead to 8-2.

The Doubledays would plate one more run in the eighth.  Leftfielder Jake Randa began the inning with a single right, moved to second on a wild pitch, then took third on a single to center from catcher Wilmer Perez.  Shortstop Jose Sanchez followed with a groundout to third to plate Randa to make the final 8-3.

Hudson Valley was outhit for the second-straight night; this time 12-10 as the 12 hits allowed were the most given up by Renegades pitchers in a game this season.  Leading the attack for Auburn was Peroni who had two doubles and two RBI, with Arruda going 2-3 with a double, stolen base and two runs scored.  Randa finished 3-5 with three singles, a run scored and stolen base, while rightfielder Caldioli Sanfler was 2-5 with two singles. 

In addition to McGowan, Hiott finished 2-3 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored to pace the Hudson Valley attack. 

Getting the win for the Gades was reliever Ben Brecht (1-0) who retired all eight men he faced in 2.2 innings with two strikeouts.  The loss fell to Doubledays starter Carlos Romero (0-3) who gave up five runs, three earned, over five hits in five frames. Closer Hector Figueroa (5) picked up the save after going the final three innings.  He allowed a run on three hits with two walks.                   

Hudson Valley now welcomes West Virginia to town for the first of a three-game series tomorrow.  First-pitch is slated for 7:05.  It will be right-hander Edisson Gonzalez (3-2, 3.28 ERA) going for the Renegades against fellow-righty Mike Burrows (2-1, 3.38 ERA) of the Black Bears.  There will be fireworks following the game.  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.