Wilmington Scores Two in the Eighth to Beat BKLYN 6-5.

BOX SCORE

Win – Alston (1-1)

*Loss – *Clenney (2-3)

Save – Ferrer (2)

Home Run – BRK: Suozzi (4)

Time of Game – 2:43

Wilmington, DE (June 14, 2022) – The Cyclones lost a tough one on Tuesday night falling to the Wilmington Blue Rocks by the score of 6-5. The Rocks scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to turn a one-run Cyclones lead into a one-run loss.

The Brooklyn bats got started early, taking a lead in the top of the first. Shervyen Newton had a one-out single and came all the way around on a booming double off the bat of JT Schwartz. Brandon McIlwain followed with a double of his own to plate Schwartz to make it 2-0 Brooklyn.

Wilmington answered quickly, scoring a pair in the bottom of the frame against Brooklyn starter Carson Seymour. But the Cyclones snatched the lead back in the top of the second when Joe Suozzi clubbed his fourth home run of the season – a solo shot – that made it 3-2 in favor of the ‘Clones.

In the top of the fourth, the Brooklyn lead would expand to 4-2 when Jose Peroza had an RBI single to plate Jose Mena but once again Wilmington answered quickly when Ricardo Mendez had a two-run double to knot the game at 4-4.

After a scoreless fifth the Cyclones had a golden opportunity for a big inning, but had to settle for a skinny run. Brandon McIlwain singled to start the threat and moved up to third on a Jose Mena double. Jaylen Palmer then worked a walk to loaded the bases with nobody out. Jose Peroza followed with a sacrifice fly to give Brooklyn back the lead at 5-4 but Nic Gaddis grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Nolan Clenney tossed 1.2 near-flawless frames in relief of Carson Seymour but ran into trouble in the eighth. The righthander walked Drew Mendoza to lead off the inning and then uncorked a wild pitch to move him into scoring position. Blue Rocks catcher Israel Pineda took advantage of the opportunity with an RBI double to knot the game at 5-5 and chase Clenney from the game. Justin Courtney was summoned from the bullpen next, and Ricardo Mendez greeted him with an RBI single that gave the Blue Rocks the lead for good.

The Cyclones will look to rebound on Wednesday when they have their first of two doubleheaders with Wilmington this week. The first game begins at 5:05 PM.