All-Stars Shine as Brooklyn Snaps Losing Skid
August 9, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release
Brooklyn Cyclones Pitcher Alex Palsha
(Brooklyn Cyclones)
STATEN ISLAND, NY (August 9, 2015) - It took 11 innings, but in the end the wait was worth it as Brooklyn snapped their five-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the cross-bridge rival Staten Island Yankees. Vinny Siena's RBI single pushed home the game-winning run and closer Alex Palsha shut the door to finish off the win.
For the third time in as many games the Cyclones jumped out to an early lead. SS Alfredo Reyes led off the top of the third with a line drive single to left field and after Tucker Tharp flied out to right field for out number one, Reyes stole second to move into scoring position. 2B Will Fulmer took advantage of the scoring chance by lining a 2-2 offering into centerfield to plate Reyes and give Brooklyn an early 1-0 advantage.
RHP Eddie Villasmil, recently transferred to Brooklyn from Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic League, made the start for the Cyclones and worked his way in and out of trouble throughout the outing. Villasmil allowed four hits and five walks through his 4.1 innings, but was aided by three double plays turned behind him to keep Staten Island off the board through the first four frames, but the righthander ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. Drew Bridges and Jeff Hendrix worked a pair of walks around a fly ball out to start the rally and chase Villasmil from the game. RHP Johnny Magliozzi was summoned from the bullpen and struck out Kyle Holder for the second out of the inning and had Thairo Estrada in an 0-2 hole before the Yankees All-Star second baseman fought back and blooped a single into centerfield to score Bridges and tie the game at 1-1.
The teams would trade zeroes over the next few frames, despite multiple scoring chances for both squads. The Cyclones had what was undoubtedly their best scoring chance in the top of the eighth, when they loaded the bases, thanks to a pair of walks and a single, with nobody out. But 1B Jeff Diehl ,the first of three straight pinch hitters, grounded out on the infield to force Michael Bernal at the plate for the first out of the frame. Brandon Brosher and Enamnual Zabala would follow with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat and keep the score tied. Brooklyn mounted another threat in the top of the ninth when Vinny Siena worked a two-out walk and Bernal singled to move the Brooklyn second baseman into scoring position, but David Thompson struck out to end the rally and send the game on a path towards extra frames.
After matching zeroes in the ninth, Brooklyn had another scoring chance in the top of the 11th. Alfredo Reyes led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Tucker Tharp to put yet another runner into scoring position. However this time Vinny Siena took advantage of the scoring opportunity with a line drive into right centerfield to plate Reyes with the go-ahead run. Siena's single snapped an 0-for-11 stretch for Brooklyn batters with runners in scoring position.
With Brooklyn nursing a 2-1 advantage they turned to closer Alex Palsha in the bottom of the 11th. The All-Star reliever quickly found himself in a jam as Ryan Krill started the frame with a ground ball single to right before advancing to second on a wild bill. With the tying run on second, Palsha was able to strike out Jhalan Jackson for the first out and got Kevin Cornelius to pop out to first for out number two. The Broklyn closer then struck out Zack Zehner on a wicked breaking ball to finish off the victory and collect his league 11th save of the year.
With the win, Brooklyn snapped their season-long five game losing streak, and improved to 24-24 on the year. The Cyclones will look to build on this evening's win tomorrow night in the middle game of this three-game set with the Staten Island Yankees. Brooklyn will send RHP Gaby Almonte (5-3) to the mound tomorrow for his first start since being named to the NYPL All-Star team. The Cyclones and Baby Bombers will close out the three-game set at MCU Park on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM.
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 Brooklyn Cyclones Pitcher Alex Palsha |
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