Cyclones 6
Aberdeen 5
July 11 at Aberdeen
The Cardiac Clones tied the game with a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth and won 6–5 in 11 innings at Aberdeen on Monday night.
The Cyclones fell behind quickly in the opening game of the road series. Cole Billingsley led off with a homer off Brooklyn starter Nabil Crismatt. Chris Clare drew a walk, moved to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Ryan McKenna’s single. McKenna then stole second, moved to third on Jaylen Ferguson’s single and scored on a Jason Heinrich sacrifice fly to make it 3–0.
Crismatt kept Brooklyn in the game – despite the rough start – pitching four shutout innings after the three-run first. Crismatt gave up three hits in five innings and struck out eight while walking one.
It didn’t look like it would matter, however, as Alex Wells held Brooklyn to one hit in the first six innings. Pete Alonso changed that with a leadoff double in the seventh, sparking the Cyclones lineup. With one out, Jacob Zanon’s single scored Alonso to break up the shutout and end Wells’ night.
Xavier Borde entered the game and struck out Jay Jabs. But with Zanon on second after a stolen base – and two outs – Brandon Brosher hit a game-tying home run over the wall in left-center.
The good feelings ended about 10 minutes later.
With one out, Aberdeen catcher Stuart Levy walked and then scored when Ronarsy Ledesma followed with a triple to right. Ledesma scored on a Kirvin Moesquit sacrifice fly to make it 5–3.
That’s how it stayed until the top of the ninth. Brosher came to the plate with one on and two outs and again stunned Aberdeen with a game-tying home run off Garrett Cortright.
Huertas settled down and shut out Aberdeen in the eighth, ninth and tenth.
Jacob Zanon led off the 11th with a walk against Daniel Ayers, in his second inning of work. Jabs singled to left, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Brosher walked to load the bases.
Arnaldo Berrios hit a grounder to short which turned into a force at the plate. With one out, Gene Cone drew a walk, giving Brooklyn a 6–5 lead.
The Cyclones couldn’t add an insurance run, but it didn’t matter as Joseph Zanghi struck out the side in the bottom of the 11th to close out the win.
The 11–13 Cyclones look for their third win in a row on Tuesday night in Aberdeen.
UPS AND DOWNS
Brosher, Zanon and Cone all collected two hits apiece.
Despite the late drama and the 11 innings, the game was completed one minute shy of the three hour mark.