Cyclones 9
Auburn 2
August 31 at MCU Park
The Cyclones avoided the series sweep on Wednesday night, defeating Auburn 9–2 at MCU Park. Desmond Lindsay and Anthony Dimino both collected three hits in the offensive outburst.
“Dez was right in the heart of it,” Brooklyn manager Tom Gamboa said. “He hit three balls really good today and scored a couple of runs, drove one in. Dimino’s given us quality at-bats since he got here.”
Auburn jumped on Clones starter Harol Gonzalez in the first. Daniel Johnson Jr. tripled on the first pitch of the game and scored on Clayton Brandt’s double down the third-base line two pitches later. Brandt moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single to center off the bat of Oliver Ortiz.
The Cyclones answered in the bottom of the second. Franklin Correa came to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs, connecting on a slow grounder to third and beating the throw to first. Ali Sanchez scored – but Anthony Dimino trying to score from second – was thrown out at home.
Arnaldo Berrios led off the Brooklyn third with a walk, moved to second on a balk, and advanced to third on Gene Cone’s bunt single. Desmond Lindsay singled to tie the game at two.
Cone gave the Cyclones the lead, scoring on Colby Woodmansee’s chopper to third, which was misplayed by Andres Martinez.
Steven Fuentes entered to pitch for Auburn in the fifth and the Cyclones responded by breaking the game open. Luis Carpio and Lindsay started the inning with singles. Woodmansee singled to score Carpio, as Lindsay went to third and Woodmansee took second on an error by the center fielder. With one out, Sanchez came through with a two-run single to right. Sanchez wrapped up the scoring flurry, crossing home on a Berrios sacrifice fly to make it a 7–2 game.
Gonzalez settled down after allowing seven hits in the first three innings and the righty retired nine Doubledays in a row. He allowed two runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking none in seven innings of work.
“One of the things all are our pitchers can learn from Harol is he never gets rattled,” Gamboa said. “He gave up the two runs but he’s very methodical, changes speeds. He just knows how to take the sting of a hitters’ swing.”
Gabriel Feliz pitched a scoreless eighth and the Cyclones bats added two more runs off Brayan Serrata.
Ty Williams pitched a scoreless ninth to finish things off.
The 35–36 Cyclones travel to Aberdeen to take on the IronBirds at 7:05 pm on Thursday.
UPS AND DOWNS
Erik Manoah was traded after the game to the Angels for Fernando Salas. The Cyclones skipper thinks it gives Manoah a better chance to make the majors quicker.
Gamboa told Manoah, “your advancement with the Mets, as deep as we are in pitching, it’s gonna happen faster for you with the Angels cause they’re in last, they’re not fighting for a playoff spot, they’re not fighting for a playoff spot and their farm system is barren. So, just take everything you’ve learned here and the door is going to be open for you.”
