Stafan Sabol Seals Cyclone Win

The Brooklyn Cyclones won their fifth straight and swept a three-game series from the Hudson Valley Renegades, thanks to a 7-5 win on Tuesday night. Stefan Sabol continued his hot hitting for the Cyclones going 3-for-5, including a pair of doubles, to extend his hitting streak to nine games. After a rare shaky outing from a Cyclones starter, it was the Brooklyn bullpen that picked up the slack allowing just one run on three hits over their 4.0 innings of work, allowing the Brooklyn bats to rally back for the win.

After two scoreless frames to start the game, it was the Cyclones who would draw first blood in the top of the third inning. Jonathan Clark started the frame with a leadoff walk and Dimas Ponce reached on an error before a groundout from Juan Gamboa moved the pair of runners into scoring position. Brandon Nimmo opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly that chased Clark home and gave Brooklyn the early 1-0 advantage. Philip Evans continued the rally with an opposite field double that scored Ponce and Cole Frenzel capped the rally with an RBI single to push the Cyclones advantage to 3-0.

The Brooklyn lead was short lived though, as Hudson Valley responded with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame to knot the game at 3-3. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Renegades jumped ahead in the bottom of the fifth, following an RBI double from Michael Williams that scored Ryan Dunn and gave Hudson Valley the 4-3 lead.

The see-saw scoring continued in the seventh, when Brooklyn took the lead for the second time in the game. Ponce started the threat with a single and moved into scoring position thanks to a wild-pitch. The Brooklyn third baseman came around to score on another miscue from the Renegades, as an error by Hudson Valley shortstop Ryan Dunn allowed Ponce to score the tying run and put Juan Gamboa in scoring position. Frenzel - the reigning NYPL player of the week - continued his hot hitting with his second RBI single of the game to chase home Gamboa and put Brooklyn ahead again, this time at 5-4.

But, as was the theme on Tuesday evening, the lead was short lived. Hudson Valley second baseman Tommy Coyle was at the heart of the Renegade rally, starting the threat with a single and then using his speed to advance from first to third on a wild pitch, before scoring on a groundout to once again tie the game at 5-5.

In the eighth inning, however, the Cyclones would take control of the game for good. Nelfi Zapata started the inning with a walk and Jonathan Clark followed with a perfectly executed drag bunt to put two men on with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt from Dimas Ponce moved the pair into scoring position for the top of the order. Leadoff hitter Juan Gamboa’s first hit of the evening - a line drive single to center - scored Zapata to put Brooklyn in front, 6-5. Brandon Nimmo capped the scoring with an RBI grounder that was misplayed by Hudson Valley’s first baseman Michael Williams, allowing Clark to score to make it 7-5 Cyclones.

That is how the game would end as Paul Sewald tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief to collect the save for the Cyclones. Matt Bowman (1-0) picked up his first professional win in relief of Brooklyn starter Hansel Robles who went the first 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.

The first-place Cyclones will return to MCU Park on Wednesday evening with a 3.0 game lead in the McNamara Division to open a six-game homestand against the Williamsport Crosscutters. Wednesday’s special Independence Day start time is 6:00 PM. Following the game, fans will be encouraged to stick around and enjoy a special holiday fireworks extravaganza. Tickets, which start at just $9, are on sale now by calling 718-507-TIXX, in person at the MCU Park box office, or at BrooklynCyclones.com