Just Shy: Comeback attempt falls short in 5-3 loss at Wilmington

Bullpen shines but bats can't complete comeback

Bryce Warrecker threw three scoreless innings on Saturday at Wilmington. (Dave Janosz)

By Joe Vasile/Hudson Valley Renegades

September 5, 2026

Wilmington, Del. (Sept. 5, 2026) – A late comeback attempt by the Hudson Valley Renegades fell short on Saturday night as they fell to the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-3 at Frawley Stadium. The Blue Rocks scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 5-1 going to

Wilmington, Del. (Sept. 5, 2026) – A late comeback attempt by the Hudson Valley Renegades fell short on Saturday night as they fell to the Wilmington Blue Rocks 5-3 at Frawley Stadium.

The Blue Rocks scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 5-1 going to the ninth, but the Renegades rallied for two runs and had the tying run at the plate with one out before falling.

At one point Blue Rocks pitchers retired 16 straight Renegades batters from the third inning into the eighth, when the Renegades rallied for their first run.

Dating back to Friday’s game, Blue Rocks pitchers prevented the Renegades from scoring in 16.1 straight innings.

In the Renegades’ four losses in the series with the Blue Rocks, they have scored a total of four runs.

The Renegades committed no errors for the third straight game but fell to 30-17 (.638) this season when they do not commit an error in a game.

Hudson Valley fell to 12-17 this season against Wilmington.

RHP Danny Flatt (2.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) allowed four runs to score as the Blue Rocks sent nine to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Flatt settled down after that to throw a 1-2-3 second inning before exiting the game.

It was Flatt’s second start with the Renegades after he was promoted from Single-A Tampa last weekend and debuted on Sunday against Brooklyn.

The four runs allowed by Flatt were the most he has given up in a game since 7/21 (G1) at FCL Phillies, a span of five outings.

RHP Bryce Warrecker (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K) fired a season-high 3.0 innings out of the bullpen, not allowing a run.

Warrecker has allowed 0 ER in four of his six outings this year of 2.0 IP-or-longer.

It was the longest outing for Warrecker since he threw 4.2 IP in a start on 9/5/24 (G1) vs Dunedin.

Warrecker made his 66^th career appearance as a Renegade, the third-most pitching appearances in team history.

RF Willy Montero (2-for-3, RBI) had his third multi-hit game of the season with the Renegades and drove in the team’s first run in the eighth inning.

Montero also robbed a would-be home run in the bottom of the seventh inning off the bat of Jack Moroknek.

SS Jackson Lovich (0-for-4, SB) reached on a fielder’s choice and stole a base, his 19^th with Hudson Valley and 40^th overall of the season between the Renegades and Tampa Tarpons.

1B Kyle West (1-for-4, R, RBI, SB) had an RBI single in the ninth inning and scored a run.

West stole his 19^th base of the season and is one steal shy of becoming the first Renegades player in team history with a 20 HR-20 SB season.

West picked up his team-leading 75^th RBI of the season, the second-most in a single-season in team history, trailing Tyler Hardman (79 in 2022).

RF Dean Toigo (1-for-3, BB) has gotten on base in 19 of his first 21 professional games.

Toigo has hits in six of his last seven games played.

RHP Jack Sokol (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K) fired two shutout innings in his seventh appearance of the season of 2.0-or-more innings. This was his third scoreless appearance of 2.0 innings among his last six games.