Yankees 12
Cyclones 3 (Game 1)
Thursday, July 30, at Keyspan Park
This game was over just after it started, with the Yankees scoring nine runs in the first two frames — all of them coming against starter Darin Gorski.
The pitcher gave up his share of hits — eight, including two homers — but he was victimized by two errors.
One of the homers was so close to not being a home-run that the entire Cyclone infield surrounded the umpire and challenged his call. Manager Pedro Lopez was tossed in the ensuing argument (and half the infield almost got booted, too!).
The Clones did scratch back for three runs in the bottom of the first, thanks to a Justin Garber leadoff single, a Sam Honeck single, a Tyler Vaughn RBI double, and one of the Yanks’ two errors on the night.
But the Clones did not score in the rest of the game.
Yankees 0
Cyclones 3 (Game 2)
The nightcap was all Cyclones, thanks to the stellar starting pitching of winner Wes Wrenn (1-0, 2.92 ERA).
Wrenn went 5-2/3 innings, scattering five hits and striking out five. But he showed true mettle in the fourth, when he gave up a single and a double, but then induced a groundout to the mound and a safe fly ball.
The Cyclones scored in the first on a Sam Honeck double, a groundout and a balk.
In the third, the Clones added another run. Justin Garber (as he so often does) led off with a single then, believe it or not, scored on a groundball to pitcher Michael Solbach, who threw the ball away.
In the fourth, Nicholas Giarraputo tripled and then scored an another throwing error by Solbach.
Relievers Brandon Sage and Michael Powers gave up no hits over the last 1-1/3 inning.
The win again put the Cyclones five games ahead of both the Yankees and the Hudson Valley Renegades in the McNamara Division.
The Cyclones have two more games against the Yankees before a two-game series against the Renegades.
