Brooklyn 4, Aberdeen 2

The L.J. Mazzilli hitting expo continued on Friday in route to a 4-2 come from behind victory for the Cyclones. Mazzilli finished the game going 2-3 with two RBI, and had some big-time hits to help deny the Aberdeen IronBirds of their first win of the season. Mazzilli is now the only Cyclone to have a hit in all four games this season. The Cyclones were trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning until they finally got around to Aberdeen starter Steven Brault.

After a leadoff double by Anthony Chavez and a single from Patrick Biondi, Mazzilli came to the plate with an opportunity to put the Cyclones on the board and back into the game. The hits by Chavez and Biondi took Brault out of the game, who to that point had pitched five innings allowing no runs. Brault was replaced with RHP Janser Severino, who had the difficult task of pitching to Mazzilli. Mazzilli laced a double down the right field line scoring Chavez. A wild pitch later in the inning by Severino would score Biondi tying the game at 2-2.

Chavez and Biondi were right in the middle of things again when the Cyclones took the lead in the seventh. Biondi had runners on first and third after hits by Alex Sanchezand Chavez when Biondi hit a hard single up the middle to score Sanchez from third, giving the Cyclones a 3-2 lead. Biondi finished 2-5 with a run and an RBI. With the bases loaded, Mazzilli managed to draw a walk extending the Cyclones lead to 4-2, a lead they would not lose.

Southpaw Carlos Valdez pitched well in his Cyclones debut, allowing just two runs in five innings of work, but it was RHP Akeel Morris who stole the show. In his second appearance for the Cyclones Morris was lights out, striking out seven in 3.2 IP allowing only one hit. The lone hit allowed by Morris was a bloop single that fell between Morris and first base. LHP John Mincone replaced Morris to record the final out with a runner on first. Mincone struck out Jeff Kemp to finish things off, recording his second save of the season in as many days. 

The Cyclones will return to MCU Park on Saturday evening when they take on the Aberdeen IronBirds on June 22 at 6:30 PM as they go for the sweep in the series finale.

Key Stats

Patrick Biondi: 2-for-5, 1 RBI

Gavin Cecchini: 2-for-4

L.J. Mazzilli: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 RBI

Anthony Chavez: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R

Carlos Valdez: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 2 K

Akeel Morris: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 7 K

John Mincone: 0.1 IP, K

(Team Report)