Cyclones 3
Auburn Doubledays 1
Aug. 6 at MCU Park
Back-to-back blasts in the fourth powered Brooklyn past the Auburn Doubledays for a three-game sweep in Coney Island.
The Mini-Mets got off to a rough start, as hurler Rainy Lara opened the game by giving up back-to-back-to-back singles to second baseman Mike McQuillan, third baseman Khayyan Norfork, and first baseman Shawn Pleffner. A sacrifice from Auburn left fielder Estarlin Martinez let McQuillan score. But Lara recovered his control and fanned right fielder Wander Ramos before designated hitter Craig Manuel grounded out to bring the home team up to bat. Lara gave up just two more hits and no further runs in the following five innings, and allowed just one walk.
Meanwhile, Doubledays starter David Fischer pitched well until he surrendered a solo shot to Coney catcher Kevin Plawecki in the fourth — and followed it up by letting left fielder Stefan Sabol crush a fly ball over the left field fence. In the next inning, Fischer plunked third baseman Dimas Ponce, who Cyclones skipper Rich Donnelly then pulled for pinch-runner Jeff Reynolds. The Doubledays then gave up back-to-back singles to second baseman Richie Rodriguez and center fielder Eudy Pina, and a sac fly by shortstop Philip Evans allowed Reynolds to score, leaving the pride of Coney Island up by two.
It was all the Cyclones would need. The bullpen held onto the lead, with closer David Wynn picking up his first save of the season.
The Cyclones have improved to 14–11 at home following the sweep, leaving the wild card race-leading team one and a half games behind the Hudson Valley Renegades in the NY-Penn League’s McNamara division. The strong home stand gives the Brooklyn squad a better record than every team in the league’s Pinckney division, which the Doubledays still lead.
The Cyclones are home again at MCU Park [1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, (718) 449–8497, www.brooklyncyclones.com] on Aug. 10 at 7 pm as they take on the Vermont Lake Monsters.
