Brooklyn Shuts Out Norwich Navigators on Throwback Thursday, 6-0

NORWICH, CT. - In his Connecticut Tigers debut, Wilkel Hernandez achieved the rare four-strikeout frame but the Brooklyn Cyclones took him deep on a two-run homer and never trailed in a 6-0 victory on Thursday at Dodd Stadium.
The Tigers (2-5) suffered their fifth loss in a row and first on Throwback Thursday wearing vintage jerseys of the Norwich Navigators, a former Dodd Stadium tenant in the Double-A Eastern League from 1995 to 2005.
Hernandez, acquired by the Detroit Tigers in a 2017 trade that sent Major League infielder Ian Kinsler to the Los Angeles Angels, struck out the first three batters he faced but Jose Medina reached base on a strike-three wild pitch and Cyclones cleanup hitter Chase Chambers tagged a two-out, two-run homer to make it 2-0.
The 19-year-old Tigers starter from Venezuela struck out Carlos Sanchez to finish the first inning with four strikeouts and fanned the first two batters he faced in the second. But Brooklyn triggered another two-out rally with a single and a walk. Tigers first-year manager Gary Cathcart pulled Hernandez after just 1 2/3 innings. He finished with six strikeouts, two hits, and three earned runs after Mitchell Stalsberg allowed an inherited runner to score on a single later in the second inning.
Stalsberg went long in relief with 4 1/3 innings, one earned run, and three hits allowed. The Cyclones scored two runs against Aaron Fernandez in the seventh. Daniel Gonzalez added a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout.
Brooklyn starter Christian James (Win, 1-0) ran his season-opening scoreless streak to 11 2/3 innings after tossing 6 2/3 shutout frames on Thursday in Connecticut. The 20-year-old righty carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning when Isrrael De La Cruz broke it up on a bunt single. 
The Tigers finished with two base hits, their lowest output of 2018, and ran their losing streak to five in a row since opening the season 2-0. Following a 2-for-30 night at the plate, Connecticut is now batting .167 as a team which ranks last in the 14-team New York-Penn League.
The Tigers try to snap their skid on Friday with first pitch against the Brooklyn Cyclones at 7:05 p.m. Jose Vasquez (1-0, 1.80) goes to the mound for Connecticut on Fireworks Friday presented by Liberty Bank. Following the postgame fireworks, fans can stick around for the Postgame Party at the Hole in the Wall Bar on the first base concourse to extend the night and enjoy a few more drinks with friends.
If you can't make it to the ballpark, tune in to the Norwich Courtyard by Marriott Connecticut Tigers Radio Network with Kevin Gehl and Elijah Gonzalez. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1310 AM WICH across Connecticut and online at CTTigers.com via TuneIn Radio.
The Connecticut Tigers are the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut. Individual tickets for 2018 home games, season memberships to "The Club," ticket mini-plans, and Tigers team merchandise are now on sale at The Tiger Den in Dodd Stadium, over the phone at 860-887-7962, and online at CTTigers.com.