Cyclones 5
Vermont 4
July 20 at MCU Park
The Cyclones won their first game of the year when trailing after seven innings, turning a 4–1 deficit into a 5–4, walk-off win thanks to Brandon Brosher three-run homer that tied it in the eighth, and Jeff Diehl’s sacrifice fly won it in the ninth.
Brooklyn trailed 4–1 entering the eighth when Michael Bernal reached on an error by center fielder Skye Bolt, and Diehl drew a walk to bring up Brosher.
The catcher smacked Dustin Driver’s offering over the left field wall to even the score.
The dinger came as a surprise to Brosher, who said he was just trying to hit the ball hard after striking out twice in three previous at bats.
“I feel like my approach in my early at-bats were pretty bad,” he said. “I knew I wasn’t going about my at-bats the way I normally do.”
Pinch-hitter Tucker Tharp led off the ninth with a single and advanced to second on Branden Kaupe’s bunt — on an 0–2 pitch.
Vermont could have intentionally walked Vinny Siena, but decided to pitch to the Cyclones leading hitter who singled, moving Tharp to third.
Listening to his manager who has preached patience at the plate, Michael Bernal worked the count to 3–1 before being intentionally walked.
Diehl, who broke a bat over his leg after striking out with the bases loaded in the fifth, stepped up with a chance to win the game but fell behind, and looked for a fastball to hit off hurler John Gorman.
“I just couldn’t panic with two strikes and start chasing like I was in those previous two at-bats,” Diehl said. “I had a feeling he didn’t want to throw a slider. I kind of figured he would come back with a fastball away.”
And Diehl launched it to right, scoring the winning run.
Brooklyn scored first on Siena’s run-scoring single in the fifth.
Andrew Church cruised through the first five innings, but surrendered a walk and a hit to start the sixth. Craig Missigman came on in relief and gave up a walk, a two run-scoring singles, and a run-scoring force out.
Gamby, who prides himself on handling the pitching staff, took the blame for the three-run sixth.
“In the heat and with the long inning we had in the fifth, I never should’ve let him go out,” the skipper said. “I’ll take the hit on my first non-good pitching move in 29 games.”
Darwin Frias pitched a scoreless seventh inning, but Nicco Blank have up a run in the eighth.
After Brooklyn tied the game, Corey a Taylor entered and pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Taylor picked up his first win of the season.
The first place 18–11 Cyclones head to West Virginia and will not return to Coney Island until July 29.
