Lowell 5
Cyclones 1
Aug. 4 at Lowell
Three errors doomed the Cyclones in a frustrating 5–1 loss to the Spinners and cost the Cyclones a share of first place in a game our boys fell behind early and never caught up.
Spinner Luis Alexander Basabe led off with a double against Cyclones starter Tyler Badamo and scored on a single by Chad De La Guerra giving Lowell an early lead.
A third-inning error by Michael Bernal put Brandon Magee on third with nobody out and Magee scored on a sacrifice fly from Andrew Benintendi.
Tom Gamboa turned to his bullpen early as Badamo left with an injury.
The Cyclones scored their lone run in the fourth.
Bernal walked and Jeff Diehl doubled, putting two runners in scoring position with nobody out.
David Thompson’s sacrifice fly cut the lead to 2–1, and Diehl advanced to third, but Brooklyn couldn’t tie the game as Brandon Brosher and Enmanuel Zabala struck out swinging.
Ruben Reyes got into trouble in the fourth without allowing a base hit. Two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases. Vinny Siena’s error gave the Spinners two runs and a 4-1 lead.
The Cyclones looked to answer back in the fifth as Zack Mathieu led off with a double and moved to third on an error by first baseman Josh Ockimey which allowed Alfredo Reyes to reach base.
Tucker Tharp flew out to center and Andrew Benintendi’s throw nailed Mathieu at the plate for an 8–2 double play. Siena flies out to end the inning.
Lowell again scored without the benefit of a hit in the fifth.
Ty Williams walked Tucker Tubbs who stole second base and scored on a two-out error by Zabala.
Enfember Martinez got the first two outs in the sixth before running into trouble.
The Cyclones loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Edwar Garcia came in to pitch to Mathieu.
who struck out looking to end the inning.
Brooklyn threaten again in the eighth when Bernal singled, Thompson was hit by a pitch and Brosher walked to load the bases with one out.
But Zabala and Mathieu struck out swinging to end the inning.
With two outs in the ninth, Siena singled and Bernal doubled to bring up Diehl.
Diehl struck out looking to end the game.
The Cyclones left 12 runners on base in the frustrating defeat. The team was one-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Brooklyn collected eight hits to Lowell’s four but couldn’t get the big hit at the right time.
Bernal was the only Cyclone with two hits.
Siena’s one-for-five performance dropped his average to .299, meaning the Cyclones do not have a single. .300 hitter in uniform.
Badamo dropped to 2–5 with the loss.
Martinez picked up the win with four-and-two-thirds innings of relief. Garcia pitched the final three-and-one-third innings for the save.
The loss combined with a win by the hated Staten Island Yankees moved the Evil Empire of the New York Penn-League into first place in the McNamara Division.
The 23-20 Cyclones are not falling in love with the Spinners but will play them on Wednesday night at 7:05 pm in Lowell.
