Renegades closer to playoffs despite loss to A's

The Jefferson City Renegades are on the cusp of claiming a spot in the MINK League postseason.

And the sooner, the better.

Despite dropping a 12-8 decision Tuesday night to the Clarinda A's at Vivion Field, the Renegades' magic number for advancing to the playoffs dropped to two when Joplin fell 15-6 to Nevada.

"The earlier you can clinch the better, that will take the pressure off," Renegades manager Mike DeMilia said. "That will give us a chance to manage our pitching a little better."

Brandon Beeler believes he and his Renegades teammates are ready to do some damage come playoff time, especially if they can get a home game by catching Nevada in the South Division standings.

"I think it would be great for our chemistry, the home crowd really gets behind us and does a great job of pumping us up," Beeler said. "But even if we have to go on the road, it's the playoffs and we need to be ready to win.

"In our first year, it would be great for the Renegades to make the playoffs and make our mark."

Clarinda scored twice in the first inning Tuesday night before Jefferson City tied it on singles by Mason Price and Beeler in the second.

The A's then scored twice in the third before the Renegades got one in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Avery Jennings.

The Renegades took their only lead of the night in the fourth, scoring four runs to make it 7-4. Beeler, Hunter Southerland, Cody Evans and Mike Million drove in the runs.

"(Beeler's) a good kid who works hard every day," DeMilia said. "He doesn't play as much as some other guys, but he's always got a good attitude and is ready when he gets his opportunities."

Beeler, a catcher, served as the DH on Tuesday.

"I was seeing the ball well and my teammates were getting on base for me," he said. "And when that happens, it makes it a lot easier to hit. A lot of credit goes to them."

But the game turned in the top of the fifth when the A's scored five runs on three hits, two walks and a hit-batter.

"When you give someone free baserunners, it's going to cost you," DeMilia said. "They swung it well, but that could have been a one- or two-run inning."

The Renegades cut the deficit to 9-8 with a run in the sixth on a single by Jennings.

The A's closed the scoring with a run in the seventh and two in the eighth on a home run by Alec Paz.

Million, Jennings, Cunningham and Beeler had two hits in a 12-hit Renegade attack. Tyler Roseberry scored three runs.

The Renegades used six pitchers in the game. Anthony Green and Brad Brown each pitched one inning of scoreless relief.

The Renegades are off the next two days before playing doubleheaders Friday, Sunday and Monday.

"We've got a hard weekend ahead," DeMilia said. "It's good to get a couple of days off."

Jefferson City (15-22) will play a doubleheader Friday at Ozark before playing a single game Saturday at Nevada.