Cyclones 7
Batavia Muckdogs 1
July 27 at Dwyer Stadium
The Cyclones offense pounded Muckdogs relievers Brandon Creath and Joseph Scanio after trailing by a single run for seven innings.
The Muckdogs got on the board in the first, as Brooklyn starter Luis Mateo gave up singles to the first three batters he faced, including a grounder to the hot corner by left fielder Garrett Wittles that drove in shortstop Alex Mejia.
But Mateo recovered his control in the following six innings, pitching three 1-2-3 innings, fanning seven batters, and limiting the Muckdogs to just three more hits and no further runs. Meanwhile Batavia hurlers Tyler Melling and Lee Stoppelman held Brooklyn scoreless for seven innings, giving up just two hits each.
But in top of the eighth, Creath — who’d come in to end the previous inning — pitched himself into a jam by giving up three singles in a row. With the bases loaded and no outs, Clones third baseman Alexander Sanchez hit a sac fly that sent shortstop Philip Evans home to tie the game at 1–1. Creath then gave up an RBI double to left fielder Stefan Sabol and walked designated hitter Jeffrey Glenn to drive in another run. That was the final straw for Batavia skipper Dan Bilardello, who yanked Creath for Joseph Scanio. But Scanio was unable to stop the carnage as the Mini-Mets batted around, with second baseman Jeff Reynolds picking up an RBI single and Eudy Pina hitting a sac fly that let Sabol touch the plate. Center fielder Brandon Nimmo then slapped a grounder to right to drive in Glenn. Scanio fanned Evans to end the inning, but the damage was done — even though the Cyclones weren’t.
In the ninth, Scanio gave up back-to-back singles to Clones first baseman Jayce Boyd and catcher Kevin Plawecki. Third baseman Dimas Ponce — substituted for Sanchez — then reached base on a throwing error by Scanio that also allowed Boyd to score, padding the Cyclones lead.
Brooklyn is now one and a half games behind the surging Hudson Valley Renegades for the division 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. 1 at 7 pm as they take on the Connecticut Tigers.
