Claws Rally But Fall Short; Cyclones Win 9-7 on Saturday

JERSEY SHORE, NJ - The BlueClaws rallied from 3-0 and 8-2 down on Saturday but fell short as Brooklyn picked up a 9-7 win over Jersey Shore on Saturday at ShoreTown Ballpark.

Jersey Shore falls to 8-6 on the year while the Cyclones improve to 6-8. The BlueClaws have taken three of five to start the series.

Brooklyn scored two unearned runs off Estibenzon Jimenez (0-2) in the second inning. One came in on a passed ball and another on an error by rehabbing shortstop Rodolfo Castro. They added a third run in the fourth inning on an RBI infield single from Omar De Los Santos to put the Cyclones up 3-0.

Jimenez came out after four, charged with three runs, one earned. he struck out seven, including at one point five straight Cyclones.

The BlueClaws got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double from Felix Reyes, driving in Bryan Rincon who had doubled to start the inning. The BlueClaws added another on a groundout by Hendry Mendez to cut the lead to 3-2.

However, the Cyclones responded with five runs in the fifth inning off left-hander Mason Ronan. The inning included an RBI single from Nick Lorusso, an RBI double from Nolan McLean, a two run triple from Kevin Villavicencio, and an RBI double from Omar De Los Santos.

The BlueClaws kept fighting and scored five times in the sixth to pull within 8-7. Leandro Pineda homered and Bryan Rincon had an RBI single in an inning in which the Cyclones threw four wild pitches.

Brooklyn expanded the lead in the eighth on an RBI single by Nick Lorusso off Danny Wilkinson. Justin Lawson came on in the ninth and earned his third save of the year with a scoreless inning.

Justin Crawford had two hits and a walk for Jersey Shore, adding a stolen base.

The teams finish their series on Sunday at 1:05 pm. LHP Braeden Fausnaught starts for Jersey Shore.

-Jersey Shore BlueClaws-