‘Cats get swept by Renegades

TROY, NY — After getting rained out on Sunday, the Tri-City ValleyCats and Hudson Valley Renegades were ready to play each other for the final time this season, unless they meet up again in the playoffs.

As a result of Sunday’s rainout, the two teams played a doubleheader Monday evening at “The Joe.”

Game one started off quite sluggish, but in the 6th we finally saw some action.  With one out and a man on second, Hudson Valley’s Jonathan Popadics came to the plate.  Popadics doubled to left field which scored first baseman Nate Lowe. Although it was only one run, that’s all the Renegades would need, as they picked up the W by a final score of 1-0.

After dropping the first two games of the series, the ‘Cats were primed to turn things around for a win in front of  their home fans.  After holding off the Renegades for four innings, the Hudson Valley boys came to life in the 5th. Things got rolling when shortstop Bill Pujlos walked to lead off the inning and left fielder Jake Fraley went yard to put Hudson Valley up 2-0.  Later that inning Miles Mastrobuoni crossed the plate to make it a 3-0 game in favor of the Renegades.

In the 9th the ‘Cats put an end to their 17 inning drought of not putting a single run on the board.  After leading off with a double to center, Tyler Wolfe scored off a wild-pitch with Brauly Mejia at the plate.  But Tyler ended up being the lone Wolfe, bringing in the solo run for Tri-City,

With only 14 games left to play in the season and just barely being on the playoff bubble, this weekend sweep from the Renegades is probably one the ‘Cats would like to quickly forget about.  “It’s frustrating as we come down to the stretch here every game is important,” said manager Lamarr Rogers.  “It hurts to get swept at home.”

The ‘Cats will now travel to Auburn for a three game set with the Doubledays, before returning to “The Joe” on Friday.