Auburn 4
Cyclones 3
August 29 at MCU Park
The Cardiac Clones couldn’t stage a late-game comeback, falling 4–3 in a loss to Auburn at MCU Park on Monday night. Brooklyn’s bats have been quiet recently, scoring just nine runs in the last five games.
“Gosh, we have a tough time scoring runs,” Cyclones skipper Tom Gamboa said.
Auburn got on the board in the second, taking an early lead against Brooklyn starter Raul Jacobson as Tres Barrera singled and scored on Paul Panaccione’s double into the gap in right-center.
The Doubledays added a pair of runs in the third. Daniel Johnson Jr. reached base after was hit by a pitch and scored on Dalton Dulin’s triple to center. Nick Banks followed with a sacrifice fly to left.
Brooklyn got on the board in the bottom of the frame as Michael Paez homered to left off Dane Dunning make it a 3–1 game.
Auburn padded its lead in the top of the fifth. Clayton Brandt singled, moved to third on a single from Johnson Jr. and scored on Dulin’s sacrifice fly to center to extend the lead to 4–1.
Jacobson gave up four runs on five hits while striking out one and walking none in six innings of work.
“He did a good job with the right-hand hitters, for some reason today it was the first time I’ve seen him struggle with lefties,” Gamboa said. “Every lefty squared up the ball against him.” The skipper added that he had trouble getting the sinker down to the left-handed batters.”
The Cyclones inched closer in the seventh when Anthony Dimino singled and scored on a Gene Cone double. Blake Tiberi cracked a solo homer to right-center in the eight, making it a one-run game.
Brooklyn’s rally came up short, however, as David Ramos got Brandon Brosher to fly out to left. Auburn outfielder Oliver Ortiz added a bit of flair to the catch, hauling it in barehanded after it popped out of his glove.
“When he overplayed it and then to have the reflexes to catch it with the bare hand before it hits the ground, because with two outs and the runner going we were going to tie up the game if he doesn’t catch that one, so I give the guy credit for having great reflects,” Gamboa said.
Gary Cornish pitched three shutout innings to keep Brooklyn in the game, but the Clones’ bats couldn’t come through in the clutch.
Anthony Dimino singled in the ninth, but was thrown out at second as Auburn pitched out on a hit-and-run. Desmond Lindsay grounded out to end the game, leaving Paez stranded on first.
The 34–35 Cyclones look to get back to .500 with a win against Auburn on Tuesday night.
UPS AND DOWNS
Tuesday’s game will be followed by fireworks.
Former Met pitcher Tim Redding is the Auburn pitching coach.
