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Health & Fitness

Ironbirds Lose 2-6; Swept By Renegades

The Aberdeen IronBirds couldn't avoid being swept in the home opening series of the 2013 season by the Hudson Valley Renegades on Wednesday night, losing by a score of 2-6 and starting the season with a 0-3 record. The Renegades were led by reliever Kevin Brandt, who came into the game after Renegades starter John Farrell left the game in the 2nd Inning after he was hit on the lower leg by a Trey Mancini comebacker. Brandt ended the night having allowed 0 runs on 3 hits in 4.1 Innings with 4 K's. At the plate, the Renegades were propelled by a  2-run HR by 2B Ariel Soriano in the 7th Inning and a 3-run HR by Catcher Oscar Hernandez in the 9th.

 IronBirds starter Luc Rennie was absolutely dealing tonight. He was lights out in the first three Innings, recording 6 K's in that span while showing good command and keeping the Renegades hitters guessing, as he mixed his pitches very well.  The only blemish on his outing was the RBI single to Ryan McChesney in the top of the 4th, which he also bounced back from strongly. In 4.2 Innings, Rennie allowed just 1 run on 5 hits while allowing 3 walks and recording 7 K's. He got the definition of a tough-luck loss tonight.

 LHP Jorge Rivera was impressive in getting out of a jam in the 6th, but after a Pat Blair walk, 2B Ariel Soriano took Rivera deep to left in the 7th to extend the Renegades lead to 3-0. Rivera bounced back nicely, recording 3 quick outs after the 2-run shot. Alex Santana got the call from the bullpen for Aberdeen in the 8th, pitching effectively, while IronBirds were held quiet by Renegades RHP Corey MacDonald for the 2nd straight Inning in the 8th. After back-to-back base hits from SS Pat Blair and 2B Ariel Soriano to start the 9th, Catcher Oscar Hernandez hit a 3-run bomb off of Santana to up the Renegades lead to 6-0 and putting the chances of a comeback in doubt. Santana did bounce back nicely after that, retiring three batters in a row, two of them K's, but the damage was done.

In the bottom of the 9th, CF George Barber and DH Sam Kimmel both walked to start the inning, and were knocked in on a 2-RBI single with 2 outs by 1B Trey Mancini to cut the lead to 6-2, but that's how the game ended after Austin Wynns, who had a great debut along with Mancini, Struck out with the IronBirds having the tying run on-deck and Mancini and Anthony Vega on base. 

A couple of notes on tonight's game:

- Luc Rennie deserved a win tonight in his IronBirds debut, but if he pitches like he did tonight on a consistent basis, the wins will come. The 19-year-old definitely is a prospect to watch in 2013. 

- Trey Mancini and Austin Wynns had great debuts tonight. Mancini went 1-4 with 2 RBI's, while Wynns went 1-4, easily gunned down Ryan McChesney trying to steal 2nd in the 8th Inning, and came close to gunning down a couple more. He also had an outstanding diving catch on a John Alexander pop-up in foul territory in the 9th

- Hector Veloz went 1-4, extending his hitting streak to 3 games. He also made two stellar plays on defense, one in the 1st inning when he fired a laser to Wynns to get the out at home, and then again in the 6th Inning, when he fielded a Jonathan Quinonez bunt cleanly, and then snapped it home to Wynns to get the final out of the inning at home plate.

- 3 IronBirds recorded their first hit of the 2013 season tonight ( Mancini, Wynns, Sam Kimmel)

- Jorge Rivera and Alex Santana showed good composure and bounce back ability tonight, as both recorded 3 quick outs after allowing a HR. 

- Prior to tonight's game, 2013 20th round Orioles draft pick, RHP Nick Cunningham, will join the IronBirds in 2013. The 22-year-old from Indianapolis, Indiana, was a four-year University of Arizona reliever from 2010-2013.

- Let's hope for the best on Renegades P John Farrell. You never want to see somebody get hurt in their first start of the season.

- Two last positives: After having 5 errors in the first two games of the season, the IronBirds had zero tonight.

-The IronBirds pitching staff had 12 K's

That's it IronBirds Nation! Keep it locked here at IBN on the Aberdeen Patch, as the IronBirds take a road trip to Brooklyn to face the Cyclones tomorrow at 7 PM. Austin Urban will get the start for Aberdeen, while the Cyclones send John Gant to the mound. Until tomorrow Aberdeen, take it easy!

                                                            - Logan Quick

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