Aberdeen 5 - Brooklyn 4

The Brooklyn Cyclones came back in dramatic fashion as they put up four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game, but lost 5-4 in extras. Aberdeen starter, Sebastian Vader doesn't factor into the decision after going 8.0 IP, giving up no runs, three hits, walking none and striking out 10 batters.

Aberdeen took the early lead in the top of the third, thanks to a leadoff walk by Scott Kalush. Jeff Kemp flew out for the first out of the inning and then Cyclones starter Seth Lugo then hit George Barber, moving Kalush to second. With men on first and second, Jared Breen grounded into a force out at second base for the second out of the inning, leaving Kalush at third and Breen at first. Hector Veloz then ripped a single through the left side of the infield to give Aberdeen the 1-0 lead.

Brooklyn’s bullpen finally cracked and gave up its first runs of the season, all of which were unearned. Cristian Chivilli entered the game to start the fifth inning in relief of Lugo, before surrendering three runs in the seventh, following an error by L.J. Mazzilli. That error came with IronBirds on first and second, and nobody out. Jeff Kemp laid down a sacrifice bunt and Chivilli threw to first but the ball was dropped, allowing one run to score and put men on the corners. After an RBI groundout and a single two batters later, the IronBirds were now up 4-0.

The Cyclones were able to get on the board in the ninth inning, thanks to three consecutive hits, a wild pitch by William Louico and a passed ball by catcher Scott Kalush. Gavin Cecchini, L.J. Mazzilli and Jared King all singled to load the bases for Jorge Rivero. While Rivero was up to bat, Louico threw a pitch to the backstop scoring Cecchini from third and moving Mazzilli to third and King to second. Rivero drew a walk to load the bases for the second time of the inning, bringing up Matt Oberste with one out. Oberste would chop into a fielders choice at second base, scoring Mazzilli from third and moving King to third with two outs. For the second time of the inning, a pitch made it to the backstop, this time a passed ball scoring King from third and moving Oberste to second, narrowing the deficit to 4-3. Juan Gamboa then drew a walk to put men on first and second for Colton Plaia. Jorge Rivera entered the game to replace Louico and face Plaia who ripped a single to right field scoring Oberste, tying the game at 4-4.

David Wynn entered the game in the top of the tenth inning in relief of Shane Bay and walked the leadoff batter, Jared Breen. With Hector Veloz batting, Breen stole second with nobody out. Veloz then struck out for the first out of the inning and Trey Mancini flew out for the second out of the inning. Kristopher Richards then stepped up with Breen on second and two out, and singled to center field scoring Breen and giving the IronBirds the 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Patrick Biondi led things off with a base hit bunt to the right side of the infield. Cecchini then laid down a sac bunt, but after the play at first, IronBird second baseman Jeff Kemp saw Biondi took a big turn at second and quickly threw it behind him at second and the tag was applied for the second out of the inning. Mazzilli then struck out to end the game. press release