In the first game of what was supposed to be a doubleheader at MCU Park, the Cyclones lost a tough one in extras to the Staten Island Yankees 8-7. The game was scheduled to go just seven innings, but lasted 12, and due to the length of the game and a league curfew, the teams were not able to get the second game started.
In the top of the 12th, Daniel Lopez hit a solo homerun over the left field wall to give the Yankees a one run lead off of Ismael Tijerina. Tijerina started the game at shortstop, but moved to pitcher after LHP Juan Urbina got into trouble in the top of the 11th. Lopez’s homerun was in response to a game tying two RBI double from James Roche in the bottom of the 11th, that made it 7-7. The Cyclones were able to end their streak of the 23 consecutive scoreless innings, connecting for seven runs and 17 hits. .
The Cyclones got it started in the second inning when Roche hit an RBI single into centerfield, breaking the Cyclones 23.0 innings scoreless streak. Jorge Rivero scored from second after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Juan Gamboa then grounded out to second but was able to advance Alex Sanchez from third to give the Cyclones an early 2-0 lead.
The Cyclones struck again in the third scoring twice with one out, starting with a single up the middle by Ismael Tijerina. L.J. Mazzilli followed with a single that advanced Tijerina to second. Matt Oberste then hit a hard liner to left driving in Tijerina, making it 3-0 Cyclones. With the bases loaded, Alex Sanchez kept the hitting spree going with an infield single that scored Mazzilli, increasing the Cyclones lead to 4-0. Mazzilli broke out of his slump finishing 3-5 after batting just .167 in his last ten games.
Cyclones starter Miller Diaz pitched well through four innings, only allowing one hit, and striking out four, but struggled to keep the lead in the fifth. The Yankees got their first run on a homerun from catcher Isaias Tejada, the first homerun the Cyclones pitching staff has allowed all season through 14 games. With two outs and the bases loaded, Diaz allowed a bases clearing double to Yeicok Calderon, tying the game at 4-4. Diaz was then replaced by LHP David Wynn, who got the Cyclones out of trouble to end the fifth.
The Cyclones had two chances to take the lead in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth,Roche came to the plate with runners on second and third, but struck out to end the inning. The following inning, Oberste flew out to left with the bases loaded to end the sixth.
The bullpen continued to limit the opposition against the Yankees, with a great combined effort from Wynn and Shawn Teufel. However, it was Teufel who allowed a homerun to Yeicok Calderon that gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead before Patrick Biondi tied it up in the bottom of the 10th scoring Gamboa. The homerun marks the first run Teufel has given up on his rehab assignment.
Roche’s two RBI double came in the bottom of the 11th at a time when the Cyclones needed it most, scoring Oberste and Gavin Cecchini. Cecchini reached on what looked like a routine groundball for Yankees shortstop Jose Rosario. But Rosario threw the ball into right field trying to get Oberste out at second. Cecchini and Oberste advanced to second and third setting up Roche . Cecchini replaced DH Alex Sanchez after Tijerina came into pitch. The Cyclones could not produce though in the bottom of the 12th, resulting in their third consecutive loss. - press release
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