NYPL Brooklyn Cyclones

Bears Claw Back to Beat Brooklyn, 5-3

July 21, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release


David Thompson of the Brooklyn Cyclones
David Thompson of the Brooklyn Cyclones
(Brooklyn Cyclones)

MORGANTOWN, WV - July 21, 2015 - The Cyclones bullpen, which had allowed just six earned runs through 61.0 innings to start the month of July, struggled on Tuesday evening allowing five runs on nine hits as the Cyclones blew an early lead en route to a 5-3 loss at the hands of the West Virginia Black Bears.

After matching zeroes in the first and second innings, Brooklyn drew first blood in the top of the third. Jose Garcia, who returned to the lineup for the first time since July 10th due to an injured thumb, singled with one out to start the threat in the third. Branden Kaupe grounded out to first for out number two, advancing Garcia to second base. With a runner in scoring position, Tucker Tharp doubled to right field to plate Garcia and give Brooklyn a 1-0 edge.

In the bottom of the frame, Cyclones starter Blake Taylor left the game due to left arm soreness, giving way to Ruben Reyes who tossed 2.0 scoreless frames of relief.

In the fifth the Brooklyn lead would grow with one swing of the bat as Cyclones third baseman David Thompson. The fourth round selection, who led the nation in home runs during his junior year with the Miami Hurricanes, connected on a 1-0 offering from West Virginia's Bret Helton and sent it over the left field wall for his first professional home run to extend the Brooklyn advantage to 2-0. Later in the frame, the Cyclones had a chance to add to their lead but Hengelbert Rojas was gunned down at the plate trying to score on a fly ball to right field for the final out of the frame.

In the sixth the lead would grow once more, this time courtesy of a Michael Bernal RBI double, that made it 3-0 Brooklyn. Once again, the Cyclones would have a chance to add to their lead but Thompson popped out with a pair of runners in scoring position to end the frame.

These missed scoring chances would look large because in the bottom of the sixth, is when the West Virginia Black Bears offense got rolling. During his second inning of relief RHP Chris Flexen, making his Cyclones debut and just his fourth appearance since undergoing Tommy John Surgery, quickly found himself in trouble. Black Bears second baseman Kevin Kramer singled to start the threat and advanced to second when Logan Hill walked to put a pair aboard for Ty Moore. West Virginia's second baseman ripped a single to right field, chasing Kramer home and advancing Hill to third with nobody out. With runners on the corners, the Black Bears executed a double steal to score another run, and when Brooklyn catcher Jose Garcia threw down to second base the throw eluded Vinny Siena allowing Moore to advance to third, still with nobody out. Flexen was able to record the first out of the inning on a line out o second base, and got Daniel Arribas behind in the count 0-2, but the third baseman stroked a single up the middle to plate Moore and knot the game at 3-3 after six.

After the teams traded zeroes in the seventh, Flexen found himself in trouble again in the eighth. The righthander allowed a leadoff double to Logan Hill, the sixth straight inning in which Brooklyn allowed the leadoff batter to reach. After David Thompson made a diving stop down the third base line, to keep the go-ahead run from scoring, Flexen would give way to Johnny Magliozzi. Magliozzi, who like Flexen is working his way back from Tommy John Surgery, surrendered a hit to Albert Bauer - the first batter he faced - which allowed West Virgina to score what would prove to be the game-winning run. The Black Bears tacked on another run later in the frame, also charged to Magliozzi, to make the final score 5-3 in favor of West Virginia.

Brooklyn will look to return to their winning ways on Wednesday evening in Morgantown when RHP Matt Blackham (2-1) takes the mound for the Cyclones. Brooklyn is currently in the midst of a six-game road trip and won't return to MCU Park until next Wednesday, June 29th to take on the Hudson Valley Renegades on Juan Lagares Golden BobbleGlove Night. Tickets start at just $10 and are on sale now by calling 718-507-TIXX, visiting the MCU Park box office, or right here at BrooklynCyclones.com.

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David Thompson of the Brooklyn Cyclones
David Thompson of the Brooklyn Cyclones
   



New York-Penn League Stories from July 21, 2015


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