Cyclones 5
Williamsport 3
July 14 at MCU Park
Cyclones’ batters scored two in the eighth to break a 3–3 tie, and Kevin Smith threw three strong innings in relief of Mets rehabbing starter Jason Vargas to lead Brooklyn past the Crosscutters.
With no one on and two outs in the eighth, Manny Rodriguez doubled to left before Jose Miguel Medina worked a walk. Carlos Cortez then singled in Rodriguez before Walter “Rabbi” Rasquin singled in Medina, putting the Clones up by two.
Vargas struck out 10 over six innings, giving two runs — both on solo homers — and left with a 3–2 lead. Kevin Smith took the mound in the seventh and, with one out, gave up a dinger to Brayan Gonzalez, tying the score, but only gave up one hit while striking out three the rest of the way.
Brooklyn scored two in the first to take an early 2–0 lead, with one run scoring on a Chase Chambers double and another coming home on an Anthony Dirocie ground out.
Dirocie later doubled in Chambers, who had singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, which put the Clones up 3–1.
Manager Edgardo Alfonzo said he thinks the win helped improve morale, and that the young players are more motivated to fight.
“You’re going to win games and you’re going to lose games,” Alfonzo said. “But the thing is how you’re going to take that. Are you going to lay back when you’re losing? Nothing’s over until the last out.”
Our boys hope to do it again today at 4 pm at MCU Park.
