Brooklyn 9, Williamsport 4
A five run, two out rally in the seventh inning was just what the Cyclones needed to avoid a sweep on Thursday, beating the Williamsport Crosscutters 9-4. Brooklyn was trailing 4-2 into the sixth inning with only one hit, a two run homer from James Roche. A string of hits in the seventh helped the Cyclones get Rob Gsellman his second win of the year. Leadoff hitter Jonathan Clark finished 2-5 with three RBI.
Williamsport scored early on a home run by Samuel Hiciano that drove in Zach Green. Green’s run was unearned because of a throwing error by Anthony Chavez that allowed him to be safe at first and advance to second. Chavez had two errors and now has 13 on the season. The Crosscutters scored again in the third on a Zach Green RBI single, giving them a 3-0 lead. The Cyclones cut into the Crosscutters lead in the sixth inning. Roche added to the Cyclones recent power surge by hitting a two run long ball in the top of the fifth inning, making the deficit just one, 3-2.
Brooklyn’s bats exploded in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead from the Crosscutters, and all of it happened with two outs. The Cyclones had three extra base hits in the inning, and Colton Plaia hit the first on a double to right field that scoredRoche. After a Chavez walk, Clark hit a triple to right field that drove in both Plaiaand Chavez. The hitting expo continued when Gavin Cecchini laced a line drive single to left field, scoring Clarke. L.J. Mazzilli capped the inning off with a triple that scoredCecchini, giving the Cyclones a 7-4 lead. The Cyclones scored two more runs in the top of the eighth inning. Chavez and Clark added RBI singles to give Brooklyn a commanding 9-4 lead.
Gsellman came into Thursday with the third best ERA in the NYPL at 1.74. He didn’t exactly have his best stuff against the Crosscutters, but that’s because Gsellman is having a superb season. Gsellman tossed six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits, and struck out four. Gsellman pitched well enough for the Cyclones to support him offensively, after receiving very little run support for most of the season. Out of the six starters in Brooklyn’s rotation, Gsellman had the least amount of run support per start at 1.57. Ricky Knapp pitched three scoreless innings and struck out five, recording his second save of the season.
(Team Report)