Valley Cats 7
Cyclones 4
Aug. 21-22 at MCU Park
In a rain-suspended game, the Cyclones lost their second in a row to the below-.500 Valley Cats, sending their playoff chances further into a downturn.
The Cyclones began the game — on Sunday afternoon — in fine fashion, putting up two runs in the second. Brian Harrison and Cole Frenzel led off with singles before Brandon Brown launched an RBI drive off the wall in left. Unfortunately, Frenzel misread the ball and only advanced to second. A double-play ended the threat. Chase Green knocked in the second run on a two-out single.
For some reason, skipper Rich Donnelly pulled effective starter Chris Hilliard at the start of the third, opening the floodgates, as reliever Randy Fontanez promptly gave up four runs. He gave up two more in the next frame before he was relieved — and then the rains came and the umpires suspended the game until Monday.
It wasn’t much better when the game resumed, as the Valley Cats scored again in the fifth to take a 7–4 lead. The Cyclones got that run back when Richard Lucas hit a sac fly to knock in Daniel Muno, who had led off with a triple.
A final run scored in the eight on Brown’s sixth homer of the year. He ended the game with 3-for-4 and two RBIs.
The Cyclones are home again at MCU Park [1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, (718) 449-8497] on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 pm. For info, visit www.brooklyncyclones.com.
