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Cyclones Get Rocked For Six Unanswered Runs In 6-4 Loss

By Former Writers

July 15, 2013 No comments

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Connecticut 6, Brooklyn 4

John Gant was on the mound for Brooklyn and looked good early on but struggled in sixth inning before being taken out after pitching 5.2 IP. The Cyclones put up two runs in the second inning, before extending their lead in the sixth inning, but the pitching staff couldn’t keep the lead as they surrendered six unanswered runs, losing 6-4.

Brooklyn took the early lead against the Tigers in the top of the second on three consecutive hits to start the inning. Jared King ripped a single to right and then moved to third on a double to left by Alex Sanchez. Matt Oberste then singled to right scoring King, and right fielder Raphael Rhymes had trouble fielding the ball givingSanchez a chance to score and Rhymes’ throw was late to the plate, but catcher Duncan McAlpine saw Oberste trying to move to second and threw him out for the first out of the inning. However, Brooklyn now had the 2-0 lead.

The Cyclones would add two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to give them a 4-0 lead. Ismael Tijerina led the inning off with a walk before being moved to third on a single by L.J. Mazzilli with no out. King then came up and walked to load the bases forSanchez, still no outs in the inning. Sanchez would hit a chopper to shortstop Curt Powell who threw the ball away, allowing each base runner to move up one base, scoring Tijerina. After a pitching change by the Tigers, Oberste grounded into a force out at second, scoring Mazzilli to give Brooklyn a 4-0 lead.

John Gant really struggled in the sixth inning, especially with two outs. Gant led off by walking Duncan McAlpine, before striking out Javier Azcona and inducing Pat Leyland to fly out to right for the second out. Brett Harrison was then hit by a pitch, moving McAlpine to second, bringing up Curt Powell who singled to right field scoring McAlpine. Brooklyn Manager Rich Donnelly then came out to bring in David Wynn who struggled with his command. The first batter Wynn faced was Austin Schotts who drew a walk to load the bases for Kasey Coffman who singled to left scoring two Tigers, and narrowing the Brooklyn lead to 4-3. Wynn then walked Raphael Rhymes, his second walk of the inning before being yanked and replaced by Paul Paez. Dominic Ficociello then drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game at 4-4, it was the fourth walk allowed in the inning by a trio of Brooklyn pitchers. Paez was able to avoid further damage by throwing a pitch to McAlpine who popped it up to shortstop, Ismael Tijerina.

Connecticut took the lead in bottom of the eighth inning, getting two runs off of Paez. Curt Powell led the inning off by reaching on an infield single to Mazzilli. Schotts then popped out for the first out of the inning, bringing up Coffman who doubled to left before moving to third on a misplay by catcher Tomas Nido allowing Powell to score, and giving the Tigers the 5-4 lead. Raphael Rhymes would add an insurance run by lifting a fly ball to right, scoring Coffman and giving the Tigers the 6-4 advantage.

Key Stats

L.J. Mazzilli: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R

James Roche: 2-for-4, 2 2B

Matthew Oberste: 1-for-4, 2 RBI

Alex Sanchez: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

John Gant: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 9 K

David Wynn: 0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2-2 inherited runners scored

Paul Paez: 2.1 IP, 2 H,, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 1-3 inherited runners scored

(Team Report)