There were lots of runs scored in the Jefferson City Renegades' first home series of the MINK League season.
Lots and lots of runs.
The Renegades dropped both high-scoring games Sunday to the Clarinda A's, losing 15-13 in Game 1 and then 11-10 in Game 2 at Vivion Field. The first game was a continuation of Saturday night's game that was suspended in the sixth inning due to rain.
"We've thrown almost every pitcher on our roster," Renegades coach Mike DeMilia said. "A lot of people are running their guys out there for a long period of time, we're throwing everyone on short stints.
"Unfortunately, we're finding a few guys who aren't quite ready, and we're giving up some runs."
When play resumed Sunday, the Renegades were leading the A's 11-8. Relief pitcher Lane Threlkeld got back-to-back strikeouts to keep Jefferson City in the lead through six innings, but Clarinda followed its one-run sixth inning with two more in the seventh to tie the game at 11.
In the eighth, with the bases loaded, Peyton Leeper was hit by a pitch and Ethan Rackers drew a walk, putting the Renegades back on top by two runs. But shaky pitching in the ninth prevented Jefferson City's from closing its first win of the season.
Nathaniel Bentura crushed a three-run home run to left field off Shane Fontenot to give Clarinda its first lead since the second inning. Bentura's blast capped a four-run inning for the A's.
Most of the Renegades pitchers had their college seasons end in late April and early May, so the first week to 10 days of the MINK League season will be getting back in a routine.
"There are a lot of unknowns," DeMilia said. "You don't know your catcher, everybody's not on the same page quite yet. It's just a matter of getting continuity between the catcher and the pitchers, and hopefully just getting a little more mound time to get better."
Five Renegades had multihit games. Ryan Missal and Lincoln Orellana each had a single and double, while Leeper, Logan Haring and Paul Haupt each had two singles.
Game 2 - which was shortened to seven innings - got off to a rocky start for the Renegades. Clarinda batted around the order in the second and third innings, and Bentura hit his second three-run homer of the day in the second.
Bentura, who also homered Saturday before play was suspended, went 4-for-4 with five RBI in Game 2. Through three games, he leads the MINK League with three home runs and 10 RBI.
"He's a big, tall, strong kid," DeMilia said. "He hits off-speed well, which a lot of young kids don't. He had a great weekend."
Clarinda led 9-4 through three innings, but the Renegades scored at least one run in each of the first five innings.
Jefferson City tied the game at 9 with a five-run fourth inning. Leeper and Dede Cole each had RBI singles and Haring drove in two runs with a single to right field.
"I think the at-bats are getting better," DeMilia said. "We're taking a few too many pitches, but in the two games against Clarinda, we swung the bats pretty well."
The Renegades briefly took the lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Orellana, who went 3-for-3 with three singles. Orellana is batting .714 (5-for-7) through three games.
"He's had good at-bats right away," DeMilia said. "He has a pretty good understanding of the game, and if he gets good pitches to hit, he's got a pretty good swing."
Clarinda (2-1) tied the game at 10 with an RBI double by Daniel Powers in the top of the sixth. Bentura gave his team the lead back in the seventh with a two-out RBI single to left field.
Clark Candiotti retired the last seven Renegades he faced to earn the win.
Missal had a single and double and two RBI, while Myles Ivory also finished with a single and a double for the Renegades. Haring drove in three runs and Cole had two singles and stole two bases, giving him five steals already this season.
"I knew coming in we could hit," DeMilia said. "There are a couple guys who are struggling, but as a whole, we're swinging the bats pretty well.
"We can't expect to score double-digits every night, but I think we'll be pretty competitive every game."
Jefferson City used four pitchers in Game 2. Blaine Dunbar had the best outing, pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief and striking out four.
"He threw some quality innings for Missouri S&T and he's a pretty dependable guy," DeMilia said.
DeMilia said walks have been a problem so far for his pitching staff. The Renegades walked eight batters in Game 2, and they have already walked 25 batters in 24 innings.
"We're going to do pretty well when you make guys get three hits to score (a run)," DeMilia said. "But if you add a couple walks in there, then everything kind of explodes."
Jefferson City (0-3) wraps up its first homestand of the season at 7 p.m. today against the Nevada Griffons. DeMilia said Manny Martinez will be the starting pitcher for the Renegades.