The mediocre Cyclones headed into the July 4 weekend in third place and ended it in second, behind the surging (and hated) Staten Island Yankees. Here’s how the action played out:
Cyclones 9
Crosscutters 2
July 4 at Williamsport
A 10-hit offensive attack — including homers by Zach Lutz and John Servidio — propelled the Cyclones to victory. The scoring started in the first, with an Ike Davis RBI single followed by a run-scoring single by Servidio. In the second, Davis came up with bases loaded — and promptly cleared them with a double. The Crosscutters managed to blank the Clones in the third, but the barrage continued in the fourth, with Lutz and Servidio’s homers. The Cyclones capped the scoring in the fifth, adding a run on an error. Starting pitcher Jeffrey Kaplan (1–0, 1.29 ERA) was stellar in his five innings.
Scrappers 6
Cyclones 1 (10 innings)
July 5 at Mahoning Valley
This is one you just have to shake off. After a cat-and-mouse game for most of the evening, Cyclone reliever Matias Carrillo served up a grand slam in the 10th inning to ruin everyone’s night. Josh Satin hit his first homer of the year in the fourth, but that was all the Cyclones could muster. Starting pitcher Scott Shaw was strong, allowing just one run over his 5 1/3 innings.
Cyclones 4
Scrappers 2
July 6 at Keyspan Park
The Scrappers got two runs off generally solid starter Brad Holt, who only gave up three hits, while striking out seven in just five innings. After that, it was all Cyclones. The scoring barrage started in the fifth inning, when John Servidio slammed his fifth double of the season and later scored on a groundout. In the seventh, Sean Ratliff hit a solo shot, his first of the year. Then, with the score tied at two, the Cyclones scored two in the eighth on a Josh Satin double. Closer extraordinaire Yury Santana retired the Scrappers in order in the ninth to earn his league-leading sixth save. Wendy Rosa (2 innings pitched) and Brandon Moore (1 IP) gave up no hits in relief.
