Cyclones 4
Connecticut Tigers 1
July 12 at MCU Park
Brooklyn’s boys of summer broke out of a four-game slump on the strength of starter Rainy Lara’s pitching, topping the Connecticut Tigers in the second game of a six-game road trip.
After giving up a leadoff homer to Tigers center fielder Jake Stewart, Lara struck out eight batters and limited Connecticut to just three hits, one walk, and no further runs in six innings of work. Reliever Logan Taylor made his first appearance of the year in the seventh, when he replaced Lara and held the Tigers scoreless for an inning. In the eight, Cyclones skipper Rich Donnelly yanked Taylor for Paul Sewald, who struck out two and gave up one hit and no runs. Closer John Mincone came in in the ninth to pick up the save — his second in eight appearances.
The Cyclones bats backed up the pitching staff, with third baseman Dimas Ponce crossing the plate in the first frame on an RBI single from designated hitter Alexander Sanchez, and scoring again in the fifth on a line drive off the bat of shortstop Philip Evans—- his 10th RBI of the year.
Right fielder Eudy Pina picked up his 14th RBI of the season in the second inning, followed by a single from secod baseman Juan Carlos Gamboa that drove in center fielder Brandon Nimmo.
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 July 17 at 7 pm as they take on the Hudson Valley Renegades.
