Cyclones 3
Staten Island 2
July 18 at MCU Park
Jose Carlos Medina stymied the Evil Empire on the mound, allowing just three hits and one run, and Reed Gamache and Matt Winaker combined for five hits, two runs, and one run batted in as the Cyclones beat the Yankees.
Our boys took the lead early when Jose Miguel “Funky Cold” Medina flied out to center with runners on second and third to score Matt Winaker in the first, but the Yankees responded in the next inning when Leonardo Molina tripled to left-center to score Dalton Blaser to tie it up.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth when Reed Gamache doubled in Matt Winaker from first. The Clones then added a run the next inning when Carlos Sanchez hit a grounds-rule double with runners on first and second to score Walter Rasquin.
But the Evil Empire wasn’t finished yet. After Jason Lopez was walked and Cody Brown doubled to left, Cesar Diaz hit a sacrifice fly to score Lopez to make it 3–2.
The Yankees came oh-so close to tying it in the ninth when Nelson Gomez hit a lead-off double then advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt, but Cody Brown struck out and Cesar Diaz grounded out to seal the victory.
The Cyclones have beaten the Yankees three times now, which accounts for almost half of the team’s wins this season. Manager Edgardo Alfonzo doesn’t know what it is that gets his guys to step up their game against their rival, but he’ll take it.
“Every time we play Staten Island, we play good compared to Connecticut or Hudson Valley when we come out flat,” Fonzie said. “If it’s extra motivation for the guys, I would like to find out, but whatever it is, it’s working.”
The Cyclones still sit at the rock bottom of the McNamara Division with a 8–20 record.
The boys aim to win their first series in almost a month tonight at 7 pm at MCU Park.
