Hampton dominates, 'Gades cruise to 6-2 win

ABERDEEN, MD (May 13, 2023) — The Hudson Valley Renegades overpowered the Aberdeen IronBirds 6-2 on Saturday night at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

Hudson Valley jumped ahead early with a run in the first inning. After Spencer Jones led off the game with a double off Cooper Chandler (1-2), Jones advanced to third on a flyout to left field by Alexander Vargas. The next batter, Antonio Gómez, hit a deep fly ball to center field to score Jones from third and give the ‘Gades a 1-0 advantage.

The lead didn’t last for long as the IronBirds capitalized on a defensive error to plate two runs in the first. Chase Hampton (1-0) was cruising through the first inning after collecting a pair of strikeouts on Jud Fabian and Jackson Holliday. T.T. Bowens then belted a high twisting pop-up on the infield that was dropped by Vargas, and the inning continued.

After the fielding error, Silas Ardoin worked a full-count walk. Then Frederick Bencsome crushed a two-RBI triple into the alley in rightfield that handed the IronBirds their lone lead of the contest at 2-1.

Both pitching staffs excelled after that until the middle innings when the Renegades pounced on a defensive miscue by Aberdeen. After Eduardo Torrealba singled to begin the fifth, Aldenis Sánchez laced a line drive to left field that glanced off the glove of Issac Bellony and rolled to the wall. Torrealba raced around from first base to score, while Sánchez settled at second base. He would later advance to third on a wild pitch thrown by Chandler.

With the infield in on the grass and Sánchez at third, Jones hit a line drive off the turf and chest of Bencosme at second base. The recovery throw home by Bencosome was too late for Sánchez, and the run gave the ‘Gades the lead back at 3-2.

This set Hampton up for his first professional win, as he struck out nine batters in five innings of work. Over his last three starts, the 2022 sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech has struck out 28 hitters in 14.2 innings of work. Danny Watson followed Hampton and hurled a scoreless three innings in relief while striking out two.

The score line stayed the same until the eighth inning when Torrealba singled home Spencer Henson to double the Renegades' lead to 4-2. With two outs and two runners on base, catcher’s interference was called on what would have been the third out of the inning. The mistake loaded the bases for Ben Cowles, who ripped a two-RBI single to pad the lead to 6-2.

Benjamin Cowles adds on 2 more insurance runs! We lead 6-2 headed to the bottom of the 8th. 👀 pic.twitter.com/544Bk6S6gp

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) May 14, 2023

Harold Cortijo tossed a scoreless ninth inning, and the Renegades captured their second win of the series.

Hudson Valley and Aberdeen will wrap up their six-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. with coverage on the Renegades Baseball Network beginning at 1:45. RHP Drew Thorpe (1-1, 4.56) will get the ball for the Renegades, opposite of RHP Jean Pinto (0-1, 2.05).