JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Alex Loosbrock’s first appearance in a Renegades uniform didn’t go as expected. In the first game of the year against Sedalia, Loosbrock pitched just one inning, giving up three runs. However, Loosbrock's start tonight against the Springfield Redbirds (3-3) was a different story. In probably the best start from a Renegades pitcher thus far, Loosbrock went five innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits, while striking out nine Redbird hitters to earn his first win of the year – the most strikeouts by a starter this season.
The Renegades (3-3, 2-3 2nd MINK South) got down early, as it took Loosbrock a few hitters to settle down. The Redbirds sent seven hitters to the plate and struck for two runs, although one was unearned. Jefferson City responded with one in the
second inning, before claiming the lead for good in the third – courtesy of a two RBI single by Quincy Jones, who earned player of the game honors scoring two runs as well.
The majority of the scoring was done early. Once the Renegades got in front, it was full steam ahead as a 4-2 lead was all the bullpen needed to take matters to the finish line. After Ben Fugitt got into a jam in the sixth, Shane Fontenot brilliantly picked his teammate up, limiting the damage to just one and keeping the lead intact. After Fontenot picked up the hold, he went on to pitch two more innings of scoreless baseball before handing it off to closer Jeremy Hidalgo, who didn’t mess around. Hidalgo pitched a clean frame in the ninth, retiring Springfield in order to earn the save and get Jefferson City back to five hundred on the year.
The Renegades will go for the short sweep as they take on the Redbirds at the same time and place tomorrow night before going on the road this weekend in MINK League action. The Redbirds-Renegades series finale as well as this weekend's games can be stream by clicking the box below:
