HVR Game Notes – May 2, 2023

May 2, 2023 – South Atlantic League (SAL) – Hudson Valley Renegades News Release

Hudson Valley Renegades (14-7) vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (10-9)

RHP Chase Hampton (0-0, 4.61 ERA) vs. RHP Chance Huff (1-1, 5.40 ERA)

| Game 22 | Home Game 10 | Heritage Financial Park | Wappingers Falls, N.Y. | May 2, 2023 | First Pitch 6:05 p.m. |

FREINDS OF MR. CELERY: The Hudson Valley Renegades welcome in the Wilmington Blue Rocks for the first of 30 contests between the two teams this season. The Blue Rocks are the most-frequent opponent of the season for the Renegades. The clubs will play two series at Heritage Financial Park and three at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington.

LAST TIME OUT: Hudson Valley crushed seven home runs in the series finale on Sunday, winning 15-2. Ben Cowles and Alexander Vargas each hit two, while Aaron Palensky, Aldenis Sánchez and Luis Santos each tallied one as well. Drew Thorpe was dominant in 6.2 innings, earning his first professional win while striking out four and allowing just one run. Danny Watson closed the game out, striking out a career-high seven in the win. Eight of the nine starters recorded a hit, with five recording multi-hit games.

IT’S GONNA BE MAY: With a 14-7 (.667) record in April, the Renegades wrapped up their best calendar month since June 2021 (19-7, .730). The Hudson Valley offense led the way by clobbering 34 home runs in the month, the most in a month since hitting 35 in 27 games in June 2022. The 34 home runs are more than Hudson Valley hit during the 17 entire seasons during their run as a New York-Penn League team (’94, ’95, ’97, ’00, ’03, ’04, ’08-’17, and ’19).

HIT THE ROAD JACK: With a win Sunday against the Greenville Drive, the Renegades secured back-to-back series win as a part of their 12-game road trip through the South. Last season, the ‘Gades won back-to-back road series twice. They defeated the Aberdeen IronBirds and Greensboro Grasshoppers in June before completing a sweep of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and a series victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones in August.

MAN ON FIRE: Over the past six games, Aaron Palensky is 14-for-25 and slashing .560/.633/1.360 with two doubles, six home runs, 13 RBIs, and four stolen bases. He is currently tied for first in HR (7), third in RBI (20), and tied for third in XBH (11), and fourth in TB (45).

FORE RIGHT: With a sixth-inning home run on Sunday in Greenville, Aaron Palensky has now homered in four straight games. He becomes just the fourth Renegade since 2005 to do…