Ironbirds 4
Cyclones 5
June 20 at MCU Park
After taking two-of-three from the hated Staten Island Yankees, the Cyclones thrashed the Aberdeen Ironbirds thanks to some timely hitting and, yes, errors by the visitors.
The Clones got on the board first, with two in the fourth, thanks to a Brian Harrison double that put runners on second and third with one out. A balk scored one run before Travis Taijeron singled home Harrison.
Two more runs came in during the home fifth. The rally started with a Nelfi Zapata single, followed by a walk to hot-hitter Daniel Muno walks and a Brandon Brown bunt single. Nelfi Zapata scored on a throwing error by the Ironbird pitcher. Then, Javier Rodriguez’s single plated Muno. A double-play ended the threat.
Starter Chris Hilliard, a holdover from last year’s squad, was practically untouched, giving up just three hits in five innings and striking out three.
But the Ironbirds stormed back with three in the sixth after Hillard had been relieved by Orlando Tovar, who promptly hit a batter and then gave up a two-run homer. He also yielded a single and a double.
The Cyclones added a key run in the seventh, as Muno got on with a triple and scored on Richard Lucas’s pop-up single.
The Ironbirds rallied against supposed closer Jeremy Gould, getting a solo homer and a single before Gould got his act together and retired the side.
On the negative side, nine more Cyclones struck out, bringing the total to 45 on the season (all of four games!).
The Cyclones are home vs. the Aberdeen Ironbirds at MCU Park [1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, (718) 449-8497], June 21-22, 7 pm. For info, visit www.brooklyncyclones.com.
