Cyclones 13
Connecticut 6
Aug. 8 at MCU Park
The Cyclones trounced the Tigers last night, showing might after a three-game losing streak with multi-run rallies in the third and fourth that cemented the blowout.
Our boys scored their first in the first, when Wagner Lagrange grounded out to knock in Jose Miguel Medina, after he reached first on a throwing error, stole second, and rounded to third on a Walter “Rabbi” Rasquin line drive to center.
But their bats really came alive in the third. With the bases loaded, Lagrange smacked a two-RBI single that plated Chandler Avant and Medina, and moved Rasquin to second. The Rabbi moved to third when Anthony Dirocie popped a fly out to center, and then rounded home on an “Iron” Brian Sharp single that brought Lagrange to third. Hayden Senger then cracked a triple to right, scoring Lagrange and Sharp, and bringing the tally to 6–0.
And the Cyclones’s dominance continued in the fourth, when they scored a whopping seven runs. Avant hit a double that brought home Medina, after he doubled, and made it to third on a Dirocie single that moved Rasquin to second, after he walked. Senger then cracked a fly-ball single to right that plated Avant and the Rabbi and moved Dirocie to third, before Dylan Tice singled to knock in Dirocie. And with two outs, native son Manny Rodriguez smacked a three-run homer that also plated Senger and Tice, bringing the score to 13–0 before Media flew out to end the inning.
Connecticut came to life late in the game, scoring two in the sixth, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth, but failed to encroach on the Clones’s massive lead.
Briam Campusano pitched five and two-thirds innings of two-run ball, striking out seven and allowing only four hits. Kevin Smith took over after two outs in the sixth, before Ryan Selmer hit the mound in the eighth, when he gave up three, and Ronald Sanchez subbed in the next inning, when he gave up one.
Brooklyn skipper Edgardo Alfonzo said he hoped the victory will help the team regain momentum after its sweep by Hudson Valley while on the road.
“We played good on the road, there were just a couple games we couldn’t finish,” he said. “Hopefully after tonight those guys get back on track.”
Our boys hope to de-claw the Tigers again tonight at 7 pm at MCU Park.
Ups and Downs
The Clones will send six players to the New York-Penn League all-star game at Penn State on Aug. 14, a far cry from the two sent last year when our boys were in the basement of their division. Ross Adolph, Billy Oxford, Jaison Vilera, Wagner Lagrange, Yeudy Colon, and Carlos Cortes will all represent Brooklyn playing for the South All-Stars.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Oxford, a relief pitcher. “I was kind of surprised by the news, but I’m excited.”
Oxford has gained a reputation as being a reliable “bridge” who takes the mound in the middle of games and holds batters off until another reliever is put in.
“It suits me, I’m not a flashy guy, that’s kind of for the end of game guys,” Oxford said.
The righty from Arizona holds a 5–1 record with an earned-run average of 1.80.
