Cyclones 2
Tri-City 1
June 24 at MCU Park
Hot-hitting Jeff Diehl’s walk-off triple gave Brooklyn its second 12-inning win of the short season, as the Cyclones improved to 4–2.
Enmanuel Zabala led off the 12th with a walk, but was forced out at second when Michael Katz failed to bunt him over. with Zabala getting forced at second. With the runner on first, Diehl, who is hitting .429 this season, cleared his head before launching the liner to right that scored Katz.
“I just tried to remain focused and stick with my plan” said Diehl, who is hitting .429 on the young season. “That was just getting a pitch to drive and fortunately enough he left a pitch over the plate.”
Tom Gamboa has been pleased with Diehl, who has performed well despite not having a set role.
“Give credit to Jeff Diehl,” the skipper said. “He’s making the most of his at-bats.”
Not many teams win games when they commit four errors and strikeout 15 times. The Brooklyn bullpen overcame some shoddy defense, tossing seven-and-a-third innings of shutout ball.
The ValleyCats had a chance to break the game open in the fifth inning. Already leading 1–0, Tri-City had the bases loaded with two outs. Gamboa removed Jose Celas, who had walked six. Craig Missigman was summoned from the bullpen and got Bryan Muniz out on a ball hit back to the mound.
“When Missigman came in with the bases loaded, a base hit right there and we’re out of that game,” Gamboa said.
Muniz had a chance to give Tri-City the lead in the 10th inning with the bases loaded, but grounded into an inning-ending double play against Alex Palsha.
In the 12th, southpaw Carlos Valdez, who picked up his first win of the year with two innings of scoreless relief, struck out Muniz with the bases loaded and two out.
The timing of Diehl’s hit was critical as the Cyclones only had Christian Montgomery remaining in the bullpen. Montgomery would have only been able to give Brooklyn two innings.
The ValleyCats scored in the third when Johnny Sewald stole third and came home on a throwing error by Brooklyn catcher Nathaniel Ramos.
Vinny Siena tied the game in the sixth with a two-out run-scoring single. The ValleyCats opened the door by misplaying a fly ball into a double, and a throwing error by third baseman Cesar Carrasco.
Brooklyn had little success against Tri-City starter Rogelio Armenteros, who impressed Gamboa by striking out seven Cyclones in five shutout innings — and giving Cyclones players a glimpse of what’s to come as they make their way toward the Show.
“Their starter will probably be as good a pitcher as we will see all year,” he said. “Our guy’s are going to have to realize that if they want to move up and get to the big leagues, they’re going to have to get to where they can handle a guy like that.”
Sage words from a guy who has seen it all.
UPS AND DOWNS
It was “Saved By The Bell Night” at MCU Park featuring Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Belding on the seminal ’90s kidcom, throwing out the first pitch and meeting with fans.
The show lasted four seasons, which was how long Wednesday night’s game felt. The official time was three hours and 33 minutes.
Michael Bernal was a late scratch with a hamstring pull.
Pedro Perez took the dreaded golden sombrero, striking out in all four at-bats.
“We’ve had him out for early hitting,” Gamboa said. “It’s been a struggle for Pedro.”
Tucker Tharp hit into a bizarre 5–2–5 double play in the sixth inning. With runners on the corners, Tharp grounded a ball to third. Alfredo Reyes took off from third but was retired in a quick rundown. Nathaniel Ramos, who was on first, advanced to second and tried taking third during the rundown, but was thrown out.
The Cyclones take on the 1–5 Connecticut Tigers tonight it what hopes to be an easy win. But as John Sterling says, you just can’t predict baseball. Find me a man who bets on baseball, and I’ll show you a fool. You just can’t do it. Momentum is only as good as the next day’s pitcher. Blah blah blah, ad infinitum.
With the win, the Cyclones move into a tie for first place with the Hudson Valley Renegades and the hated Staten Island Yankees.
