Fishkill - The Renegades lost the final game of the opening series Sunday afternoon, 8-3, at Dutchess Stadium.
The Renegades jumped all over Aberdeen's starter Branden Erbe to start the home half of the first. For the second game in a row Brett Nommensen jump started the Renegades offense. Nommensen drove a 0-1 offering over the right field fence giving the Renegades an early one-run lead. The Renegades doubled their lead to two runs on a Mark Thomas RBI single to right field allowing Burt Reynolds to score from third.
Erbe reached his pitch count of 24 pitches in the first inning and was pulled from the game after the conclusion of the first inning. Southpaw Tyler Sexton came into the game in the second to replace the rehabbing Erbe.
Getting his first professional start was the Rays second round draft pick in 2008 southpaw Kyle Lobstein. Lobstein come out strong holding the IronBirds scoreless until the visiting half of the third when Aberdeen plated two runs to knot the score up at two runs apiece. With one out and the bases empty the visiting IronBirds hit back-to-back doubles plating one run and leaving Garabez Rosa on second. Two batters later, Rosa scored the tying run on a Steven Bumbry ground out to the shortstop, bringing the score to 2-2.
The Renegades struck back quickly regaining the lead on a Gabe Cohen infield single to the shortstop. With Thomas on second the third base man was unable to control Chen's groundball allowing Thomas to score from second giving the Renegades back the lead. Lobstein's professional debut came to an end in the visiting half of the fifth. Lobstein worked 4.1 innings of five-hit, four-run baseball striking out three and walking four.
Kevin Chavez came into the game in relief of Lobstein with two runners on the base path. After a single and a wild pitch the IronBirds etched two more runs giving them an one-run lead that they would not give up the rest of the game. Aberdeen gave themselves some insurance in the visiting half of the sixth plating three more runs to bring the score to 7-3.
After the Renegades scored their last run of the game in the third inning Aberdeen's pitcher, Sexton, found his grove and did not give up a hit to a Renegades batter until the home half of the seventh. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced during that span. sexton earned the win and with hios four earned runs Lobstein recorded his first loss.
The Rays 8th round draft pick came up big for the second game in a row going 2-for-5 on the night. Nommensen hit a 349 foot homerun to open the game and struck out one time.
Tomorrow the Renegades start a three-game home-road-home series vs. their division rival Brooklyn Cyclones. The Cyclones will be giving the ball to lefty Angel Cuan (0-0, 0.00) and right-hander Alexander Colome (0-0, 0.00) will be taking the mound for the Renegades with the first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.
