Photo Credit: Allen Greene Photography

Thomas Szapucki turned in six strong innings on Sunday, but the Brooklyn Cyclones fell to the Aberdeen Ironbirds 1-0 on Harry Potter night at MCU Park.

Szapucki, the Mets’ number eight prospect according to MLB.com, struck out ten batters across seven innings. It was his third double-digit strikeout effort between Kingsport and Brooklyn this season. The southpaw had not allowed a hit through five innings, before Mike Odenwaelder and Kirvin Moesquit singled in the sixth.

The Ironbirds pushed the only run of the game across in the fifth inning. With a runner on first, Guillermo Salas hit a high fly ball to right field, where Arnaldo Berrios chased after it into foul territory. Berrios caught the ball, crashed into the side wall, and fell to the ground, where he remained while the runner was able to score from first base. Berrios had to be carried off the field and was diagnosed with a knee bruise. The run charged to Szapucki was not earned.

The Cyclones’ offense, which had won six straight games before losing in Vermont on Saturday, bordered on inept. Brooklyn was held hitless until Blake Tiberi singled to lead off the seventh inning, although he was promptly caught stealing second base. Colby Woodmansee extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the ninth inning. Aberdeen’s four pitchers combined to strike out ten batters.

Adam Atkins and Taylor Henry  each tossed one scoreless inning out of the bullpen.

The Cyclones will play the second game of their series with the Ironbirds on Monday, as they prepare for Tuesday’s 11:30 AM contest. Erik Manoah will start on Monday.