Parada, Ramírez Can't Slug 'Clones Past 'Gades

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WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (May 16, 2023) — C Kevin Parada and CF Alex Ramírez each blasted solo home runs, but the Brooklyn Cyclones dropped the opening game of their series, 9-6, to the Hudson Valley Renegades on Tuesday night at Heritage Financial Park.

The Renegades (22-12) started fast. CF Spencer Jones led off the home half of the first inning with a solo home run to right and LF Aaron Palensky quickly added another solo shot in the second to put Hudson Valley in front, 2-0.

Following a double by SS Ben Cowles and a single from RF Aldenis Sánchez, 3B Marcos Cabrera and Jones added run-producing singles to give the ‘Gades a 4-0 advantage in the second.

Brooklyn (11-20) started chipping away at the deficit in the fourth. Parada started the frame by blasting a home run out to straightaway left. The 2022 first-round pick’s third homer of the campaign put the Cyclones on the board, 4-1.

Ramírez subsequently reached on a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch before RF Stanley Consuegra poked a single to right. After a pair of strikeouts and a balk that brought in a tally, DH Joe Suozzi slapped an RBI one-base knock to yank Brooklyn within one, 4-3.

Hudson Valley retaliated with a three-spot of their own in the fifth. 2B Eduardo Torrealba and DH Antonio Gómez singled before C Rafael Flores walked to load the bags. 1B Spencer Henson stretch the Renegades' advantage back to two, 5-3, on a sacrifice fly to right.

After a walk and a strikeout, Sánchez smashed a two-run single to center, giving Hudson Valley their four-run edge back, 7-3.

In the sixth, it was Ramírez’s turn to leave the building. The 20-year-old started the inning with a towering solo home run to the right of dead center field. Ramírez’s second blast of 2023 cut Brooklyn’s deficit to three, 7-4.

The Cyclones trimmed the deficit again in the seventh. SS César Berbesi reached on a two-out infield knock and scored following consecutive singles by 2B Kevin Kendall and Parada.

Quickly, Hudson Valley regained a four-tally advantage in their half of the seventh. Palensky ripped an RBI single after the first two batters of the inning reached, while another run crossed on a wild pitch.

Brooklyn added their final run in the top of eighth when Consuegra doubled and scored on a single up the middle by LF Omar De Los Santos.

Brooklyn’s RHP Jeffrey Colón was unable to escape the second inning on Tuesday and was saddled with his second defeat. LHP Joel Valdez fell one out shy of qualifying for the victory, taking a no-decision for Hudson Valley. LHP Clay Aguilar (2-0) recorded the final out of the fifth, earning his second win.

The Cyclones will try and halt their four-game slide on Wednesday morning. RHP Blade Tidwell (0-3, 8.35) — the Mets’ top pitching prospect — is expected to take the hill for Brooklyn in game two of the series. Hudson Valley is projected to counter with RHP Tyrone Yulie (1-1, 5.16). The first pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. from Heritage Financial Park.