Auburn 5
Cyclones 0
August 30 at MCU Park
It was Black Tuesday in Brooklyn as this year’s Cyclones squad was eliminated from playoff contention after falling 5–0 to Auburn at MCU Park.
The New York-Penn League had Brooklyn listed as eliminated in the standings earlier this week.
“The only highlight of the whole night was Dunn in the first three innings,” Cyclones manager Tom Gamboa said.
Justin Dunn pitched three shutout innings, but Auburn got to Erik Manoah in the fifth.
Erik VanMeetren led off with a walk and Daniel Johnson Jr. singled. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third and Manoah gave up the first run of the night, tossing a wild pitch that allowed VanMeetren to score. Nick Banks singled to right to drive in Johnson Jr. with Auburn’s second run.
Auburn starter Yonathan Ramirez allowed just three singles and a walk in five shutout innings.
The Doubledays padded the lead in the sixth when Paul Panaccione led off with a single and moved to third on Andres Martinez’s single. With runners on the corners and one out, Luis Vilorio bunted back to Manoah on a squeeze play. The pitcher mishandled the ball and Panaccione scored on the error.
Manoah allowed three runs – two earned – on seven hits in four innings of relief.
“Manoah did not retire the leadoff hitter in any of the four innings that he pitched, and that’s what set up the damage,” Gamboa said.
Auburn scored without recording a hit in the eighth, taking advantage of Dillon Becker’s on-mound miscues. Two walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter loaded the bases for Dalton Dulin who worked another walk to push across a run.
The Doubledays added one more in the ninth as Panaccione tripled off Alejandro Castro and scored on a force out.
Russell Harmening, Phil Morse and Kyle Simonds combined to shut out Brooklyn over the final four innings. The Cyclones didn’t connect on an extra-base hit, racking up seven singles.
The 34–36 Cyclones look to avoid a sweep against Auburn at 7 pm on Wednesday at MCU Park.
UPS AND DOWNS
Auburn’s first baseman is Ryan Ripken, son of baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. Ryan was a 15th round pick of the Nationals in 2014.
“Very long swing,” Gamboa said about Ripken, a .208 hitter. “He’s got a lot of work to do to make the swing shorter. He made some nice plays at first base. A nice sized kid who played well at first base but his swing is way, way too long.”
