Renegades Hold On Against Baby Bombers

STATEN ISLAND, NY -The Baby Bombers fell just short. Despite scoring the last four runs to cut a five run deficit to one, it wasn't enough in their 6-5 loss against the Renegades before 4,053 at RCBP Friday night.

The tone was set immediately by Hudson Valley (7-4) when they batted around for five runs in the first inning against Staten Island southpaw Edgar Soto (0-1). After one out RBI singles by Matthew Fields and Matt Spring, the big blow was delivered by shortstop Jairo DeLaRosa whose two out bases clearing double broke the game open, making it an uphill climb for Staten Island (6-5).

"When you get behind the eight-ball early, it's tough to come all the way back because it seems like you're playing catch up all night," manager Gaylen Pitts said. "We had our chances but you don't win too many games like that when you get behind five or six runs in the first inning."

"We got a few hits but we didn't get them in the right times," left fielder James Cooper said who came across to score Staten Island's first run in the second on catcher Jose Gil's RBI fielder's choice.

"They had that one big inning- the first inning and we battled back. We just came up short tonight."

Ultimately, it was some hustle from Hudson Valley centerfielder Maiko Loyola in the fourth which proved to be the difference. After singling and stealing second, he moved to third on William Stewart's single to left field and took home on shortstop Mitch Hilligoss' throw to second, making it 6-1.

"I take control. [Hilligoss] was a little slick. I take a good jump to score," Loyola said. "Be aggressive in the rundown."

Despite falling behind by five runs though for the second time, the Baby Bombers slowly chipped away to make things interesting. They got a run back a half inning later when Hudson Valley starter Woods Fines (1-0) balked in third baseman Tim O'Brien.

An inning later, they took advantage of another Fines balk to push across two more runs. After centerfielder Wilkins DeLaRosa reached on an infield hit and stole second, rightfielder Seth Fortenberry was hit by a pitch to put the first two runners aboard. Not coming to a complete stop for the second consecutive inning, Fines balked them to second and third. Both came around to score on fielder's choices which suddenly made it 6-4.

The Baby Bombers pushed across another unearned run in the sixth when Hudson Valley's DeLaRosa booted a Wilkins DeLaRosa sharp grounder, allowing Wilmer Pino to score from third. After DeLaRosa stole second for the second straight inning, Staten Island was in position to tie it. But the rally fell short when Renegade reliever Matt Larson froze Fortenberry with a 3-2 fastball on the inside corner.

"You got to swing the bat with two strikes," Pitts pointed out. "You got to protect the plate because [HP Jon Saphire] set the tone early. He was going to ring you up. So you got to be hacking with two strikes."

After Neal Frontz worked two scoreless innings, closer Erik Walker pitched a 1-2-3 ninth striking out two batters, including Hilligoss looking to end it.

"A good save," Walker said after picking up his second save. "I just went out there and I can pitch all night when you got guys like Larson and Frontz in front of you, just come in and throw an inning. It's not that tough...it makes your job a lot easier."

Notes: For the second straight Friday night, the game was immediately followed by 15 minutes of fireworks. ... After Soto was charged with all six runs, the Staten Island bullpen shutdown Hudson Valley the final five thanks to the trio of Toni Lara, Justin Keadle and Luke Trubee, who combined for 5.2 IP of scoreless relief allowing just one hit and combining for six strikeouts. Their effort was not lost on Pitts. "I was really impressed with our bullpen. They kept the game close and once we scored a few runs they kept us in the game and gave us a chance," he said. ... Staten Island travels to Hudson Valley for the rubber game before a concluding their four-game road trip with three at Aberdeen. They return to St. George next Wednesday to host the Cyclones.