The Renegades don’t get the chance to face a Major League pitcher very often. So when New York Yankees pitcher Darrell Rasner, on a rehab assignment with the Staten Island club, took the mound at Dutchess Stadium on Friday, Aug. 31, the ballpark was buzzing with excitement.
The ‘Gades didn’t disappoint, hitting Rasner hard before ultimately losing 8-3.
Second baseman Cody Cipriano set the tone for Hudson Valley in the bottom of the first. Trailing 1-0 after starting knuckleballer Diego Echeverria surrendered one run to the Yankees in the top of the first, Cipriano led off by tying the score with a monster home run off of Rasner. The shot, to dead-center, was a Major League-distance homer.
But Rasner, who went 1-3 this season for the Yankees before being placed on the 60-day disabled list, regained his control to retire the Renegades in the first without giving up another hit.
The Yankees, who scored at least one run in the first four innings, continued their offensive surge in the top of the second. Echeverria gave up consecutive doubles and a sacrifice fly and the Yankees jumped ahead 3-1.
In the bottom of the third, trailing 4-1, the Renegades seemed poised for a comeback. Centerfielder Jimmy Mayer hit a long double to left-center to lead off. Rasner then walked Cipriano but retired the next two batters, shortstop Omar Luna and leftfielder Stephen Vote, though not with ease – both hitters sent fly balls deep into the outfield. With two outs, catcher Mike McCormick struck out to end the inning.
The Renegades’ Robert Della Grotta relieved Echeverria to start the fourth, but fared no better. The Yankees scored twice more against Della Grotta, on two doubles, a walk and a sacrifice fly, to extend their lead to 6-1.
The Renegades weren’t going to give up, however. In the bottom of the fourth, first basemen Henry Wrigley hit a hard double off Rasner to start the inning. Rasner was replaced by Nick Chigges, who surrendered a two-out infield single to shortstop Kevin Colon that brought Wrigley home and cut the lead to 6-2. After walking the next hitter, Chigges struck out Cipriano to end the inning and get out of the jam.
The Renegades’ second run was charged to Rasner. The Major-Leaguer allowed two runs on three hits in 3-and-a-third innings, earning a no-decision in the game.
Hudson Valley’s offense began to sputter after the fourth inning. The ‘Gades managed only three hits the rest of the way, two of them coming in the bottom of the sixth when they scored their final run on an RBI single by Mayer.
The hit made it a 6-3 game but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when the Yankees tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh and ninth innings. Second baseman Damon Sublett, who finished 3-4 with 2 RBIs for Staten Island, put the nail in the coffin with a solo homer in the top of the ninth.
Renegades manager Matt Quatraro said he was pleased to see the team fight to stay in the game early on against Rasner. “We got back in the game, we battled back,” said Quatraro, referring to the first four innings when the ‘Gades came were within striking distance.
With the loss, the Renegades dropped to 31- 38 with seven games remaining. Quatraro said the Gades would finish out the season playing strong. “We’re here to play well. The games, they all count,” said Quatraro. “We’re playing the game for pride whether you’re in first place or last place.”
Echeverria (3-8) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in three innings. Mayer, playing in place of starting centerfielder Emeel Salem, went 2-3 with a double and an RBI.
The Renegades’ woes continued over the weekend, as the ‘Gades lost two games on the road to the Aberdeen Ironbirds on Saturday and Sunday, by scores of 10-9 and 6-2, respectively.
Hudson Valley snapped their four-game losing streak when the Ironbirds came to Dutchess Stadium on Sept. 3, beating Aberdeen handily, 10-3.
The Renegades did all their damage in the third and fourth innings, scoring five runs apiece in each frame.
The third inning was highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of McCormick. In the fourth, first basemen Vote hit a two run single, and leftfielder Reid Fronk drove another two home with a double. Both players finished 2-5 with 3 RBIs.
Josh Johnson (5-2) picked up the win for the ’Gades, turning in a second consecutive solid start. Johnson gave up three runs on four hits in five complete innings of work, then turned the ball over to the Renegades bullpen, which threw four shutout innings.
The win gave the Renegades a 32-40 record with four games remaining in the season. Hudson Valley finishes the year this week at home with a three-game series against the Vermont Lake Monsters.