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NYPL Brooklyn Cyclones

'Cats Claw Back for 4-2 Win

August 31, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release


Alfredo Reyes of the Brooklyn Cyclones
Alfredo Reyes of the Brooklyn Cyclones
(Brooklyn Cyclones)

TROY, NY (August 31, 2015) - Despite collecting 11 hits, the Brooklyn Cyclones managed only two runs and lost 4-2 to the Tri-City ValleyCats on Monday evening at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. Brooklyn has dropped five of its last six games and compiled a 9-20 record in August, the franchise's worst mark ever in a full calendar month of games.

Shortstop Alfredo Reyes, whose improved production has been one of the few bright spots in the month, led off the first inning with a single against ValleyCats' starter Trent Thornton. After advancing to second on a ground out, Reyes scored when first baseman Jeff Diehl singled to center field. Reyes went 3-for-3 with a walk, bringing his August batting average to .313. He ended July hitting .149 and enters September with a .230 clip for the season.

Brooklyn's starter Gaby Almonte (6-7) pitched effectively early, not allowing a Tri-City runner to reach second base in the first three innings. In the fourth, ValleyCats' left fielder Aaron Mizell led off by blasting a triple to right-center field. But Almonte got cleanup hitter and third baseman Bobby Wernes, who holds the New York Penn League's highest batting average, to line out softy to first. The right-hander then struck out first baseman Dexture McCall for the second time. With two outs, DH Kolbey Carpenter hit a line drive to the right side but was denied a hit when second baseman Vinny Siena made a leaping catch to end the frame.

The Cyclones wasted an opportunity to add insurance runs in the fifth. Catcher Manuel Hilario led off with a single to left, one of five times Brooklyn's leadoff hitter would reach in the first seven innings. After a sacrifice bunt from Reyes, Siena picked up an infield single to put runners at the corners. But ValleyCats reliever Matt Bower (1-0) got Cyclones' third baseman David Thompson to hit a grounder to third base, resulting in an inning-ending a double play. Despite plenty of chances to score, Brooklyn's lineup sputtered in critical moments throughout the night, finishing 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Tri-City grabbed the lead in the sixth. Second baseman Brooks Marlow started the rally with a one-out single to right off Almonte. After Mizell worked a walk, Cyclones manager Tom Gamboa brought Johnny Magliozzi in from the bullpen to face Wernes who singled on a soft liner to center to load the bases. McCall followed with hard ground ball up the middle that plated two runs to put Tri-City in front. A Magliozzi wild pitch during the next at bat brought Wernes home and gave the ValleyCats a 3-1 lead.

Brooklyn had a good opportunity to tie it up in the seventh against Bower. Right fielder Enmanuel Zabala led off with a bloop single to right. After Hilario reached on a fielder's choice grounder to second, Reyes lined a double just inside the right field line, moving Hilario to third and putting the tying runs in scoring position. Siena followed with a two-strike ground out to third to bring Hilario home and shave the deficit to 3-2. With two outs and Reyes at second, Thompson flew out left field, ending the threat.

Tri-City got the run right back in the bottom of the seventh against Magliozzi. Shortstop Keach Ballard hit a leadoff single and center fielder Johnny Sewald bunted him to second. Two batters later, Mizell lofted a single to shallow right to bring Ballard home and push the ValleyCats' lead to 4-2.

After Alex Palsha struck out the side for Brooklyn in the eighth, the Cyclones managed only a two out walk against Zac Grotz in the ninth. Grotz fanned Siena to pick up his fourth save of the season for the first-place ValleyCats. The defeat drops Brooklyn's record to 31-37.

The Cyclones play the series finale in Troy tomorrow at 7pm. RHP Raul Jacobson will make his first start for Brooklyn.

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Alfredo Reyes of the Brooklyn Cyclones
Alfredo Reyes of the Brooklyn Cyclones
   

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