NYPL Brooklyn Cyclones

Cyclones Miscues Waste Comeback in 10-7 Loss

August 12, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release


BROOKLYN, NY- August 11, 2015- The Cyclones fell short of sweeping the rival Yankees as they dropped an extra inning affair by a 10-7 score in 12 innings. Staten Island salvaged the third and final game of this Battle of the Bridge series after Brooklyn rallied from three runs down to tie the game in the seventh.

Brooklyn had a golden opportunity right off the bat, loading the bases in the first inning. However, a one out chopper from Hengelbert Rojas turned into a double play, ending the early threat. Staten Island would be the ones to get on the board first in the top of the second. After a leadoff single, Junior Valera stole second and scored on a double from designated hitter Brandon Wagner, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

In their half of the inning the Cyclones threatened again but this time they cashed in. Brandon Brosher walked to lead off the inning before Emmanuel Zabala singled. First baseman Zach Mathieu then lined a double to left center field, scoring both runners and giving Brooklyn its first lead. With two outs, Vinny Siena lined his second single of the game into left field, plating Mathieu and stretching the Cyclone lead to 3-1.

The lead wouldn't last long as Staten Island evened things up in the fourth. After a one out double from Valera, a ground ball from Jhalan Jackson drew an errant throw from David Thompson. Valera scored and Jackson wound up at third with the game now 3-2. During the next at-bat a passed ball charged to the catcher Brosher went to the backstop, allowing Jackson to score and tie the game at three.

With the game tied headed to the sixth, Brooklyn starter Andrew Church came out to begin the inning before running into some trouble. A leadoff double from Thairo Estrada was followed by a two-run shot by Kevin Cornelius, putting Staten Island on top by a pair. Valera lined his second double of the game before Carlos Valdez came in the game. Valera stole third before scoring on a wild pitch, making it a 6-3 game. That closed the book on Church, who was charged with six runs (four earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out four in 5+ innings pitched. Valdez retired three Yankee hitters in order to escape the inning without any further damage.

The Cyclones began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth after a single and a stolen base from the suddenly hot-hitting Alfredo Reyes. With two outs, Siena knocked his third base hit of the game into center field, driving in Reyes to make it a 6-4 game.

Valdez remained in the seventh for Brooklyn as the Yankees tacked on an insurance run. A walk and a sacrifice bunt moved Jeff Hendrix to second before Estrada hit a single, moving runners to the corners. A sacrifice fly brought Hendrix in to stretch the Yankee lead to 7-4.

While it looked like Staten Island had control of the game, Brooklyn had some fight left in them as they ran out of outs to play with. With RHP Josh Roeder on the hill in the seventh, Jeff Diehl singled before Zabala reached on a hit-by-pitch with two outs. With two men on, Mathieu stepped up and clocked his second home run of the season over the left field fence to knot the score at seven and make it a brand new ballgame.

RHP Corey Taylor came on to pitch a perfect eighth for Brooklyn in the eighth after a two scoreless innings for Valdez. The Cyclones failed to score in their half of the inning before closer Alex Palsha came on in a tie game in the ninth. He would also toss a scoreless inning, inducing three ground balls to second base.

In the bottom of the ninth, Zabala's second hit of the game put the winning run on base with two outs. The stage was set for Mathieu to play hero once again but after a strikeout to end the frame, we would head to extra innings in Brooklyn. RHP Craig Missigman came on for the Cyclones in an attempt to keep the game tied. A leadoff walk to Cornelius and a bunt single from Valera put runners on first and second with nobody out for Staten Island. Missigman got tough, striking out Jhalan Jackson and Brandon Wagner before getting Jake Hernandez to ground out and end the threat.

Missigman stayed on to pitch the eleventh and got through it easily, retiring the Yankees in order on just six pitches. Due to limited availability of relief arms, Tom Gamboa stuck with Missigman for the top of the 12th and it proved to be costly for Brooklyn. After walking Ryan Krill, Valera reached base for a sixth time on an error by Zabala in center field. With runners on first and second, Jackson grounded a single into right field, scoring Krill and moving Valera to third. Wagner stepped up and doubled to left field, scoring Valera and moving Jackson to third. A fielder's choice resulted in an error on catcher Jose Garcia and plated Jackson for Staten Island's third run of the inning, making it a 10-7 game. Missigman (1-2, 1.33) gave up three runs (one earned) before being removed for position player Pedro Perez and would eventually take the loss despite a gutty 63-pitch performance.

RHP Jose Mesa Jr. (2-0) came on for Staten Island in extras, mowing through a hitless tenth and eleventh before staying on for the twelfth. With a three run lead, he struck out the side and closed out a six strikeout performance over three innings while allowing just one hit and notching his second win of the season.

On Wednesday, August 12th the Cyclones open a three game series at MCU Park against the State College Spikes. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM with Tyler Badamo (2-5, 3.10) on the mound for Brooklyn. Join us for 90s Nickelodeon Night at MCU Park celebrating the television show GUTS, the the extreme sports competition that dominated the decade. For just $25 you can get a ticket to the ballgame, a brown paper bag lunch and your own fun-sized piece of radical rock known as the Aggro Crag! A limited number of tickets remain and can be purchased at the MCU Park Box Office, by calling (718) 507-TIXX or right here at BrooklynCyclones.com.

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