Cyclones 2
Hudson Valley 1
July 2 at MCU Park
Alfredo Reyes’s two-run single in the seventh put the Cyclones ahead to stay in a 2–1 win over Hudson Valley.
With the bases loaded and one out, Reyes hit a fly ball to deep center, which glanced off Angel Moreno’s glove and scored David Thompson and Jeff Diehl.
It was a good time for Reyes to deliver his first two runs batted in of the season. The shortstop also doubled in the fifth.
Brooklyn actually took itself out of a bigger inning when Reyes was called out for passing Enmanuel Zabala on the bases. Zabala misread the ball and tried going back to first.
Instead of a three-run triple, and Gamboa putting on a squeeze play to make it 4–1, the Renegades stayed in the game.
The gaffe didn’t cost the Clones as Alex Palsha picked up his third save of the year, striking out four in two shutout innings.
Christian Montgomery picked up his first win of the season, striking out the side in the seventh with a single and hit batter mixed in.
Palsha and Montgomery both have earned run averages of 0.00 in five appearances. Gaby Almonte gave up one run in six innings in his third start of the season.
The three Cyclones pitchers combined to strike out 14 Renegades while walking only two.
“From day one through Game 13, our pitching has been very consistent,” Brooklyn skipper Tom Gamboa said. “And pitching’s the name of the game. That’s keeping us in the games.”
A big part of the pitching staff’s success has been the catchers. Gamboa and pitching coach Dave LaRoche allow the catchers to call pitches.
“That’s part of development,” Gamboa said. “We’ll certainly give our input, what we see with the hitters, and the pitchers are free to shake off. So far the catchers have been doing a terrific job calling probably 80 percent of the pitches. You don’t see many shake offs.”
Several Cyclones were sent to Double-A, including Michael Katz and Natanael Ramos. Michael Gibbons will make a start in Double-A as well.
The Cyclones go to Hudson Valley for a Friday night matchup before returning home for a series against Williamsport, including Seinfeld Night on July 5.
UPS AND DOWNS
Reliever Gaither Bumgardner was sent to the Angels organization — a fact he learned in the middle of the game.
Manuel Hilario threw out three Renegades trying to steal second base.
A rain delay caused a 27-minute halt after the seventh inning. Many of the 5,279 in the crowd stayed for the postgame fireworks.
