Cyclones Can’t Keep Pace with Ironbirds, Fall 6-2 on Wednesday

BOX SCORE

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Brooklyn Cyclones dropped the second of a six game set on Wednesday night to the Aberdeen Ironbirds, 6-2. Brooklyn committed a season-high four errors in the loss.

Despite the defeat, RHP Justin Lawson continued his stellar start to 2024. The righty surrendered only one unearned run while giving Brooklyn 2.1 innings of length out of the bullpen. Lawson struck out two batters, while walking only one. The N.C. State product has still yet to allow an earned run through six relief outings.

Aberdeen opened the scoring right off the jump. After DH Elio Prado reached on an error, CF Matthew Etzel drove him in for the game’s first run. That was the first of Etzel’s three hits on Wednesday.

One frame later, the Ironbirds took advantage of LHP Felipe De La Cruz, putting the first three men on base thanks to a walk, catcher’s interference, and walk. That set the table for Prado’s two run base knock, extending the Aberdeen lead to 3-0.

The Cyclones utilized a quick response though, plating runs in both the home second and third. First, DH Nolan McLean clobbered his team leading third home run of the season to score Brooklyn’s first run of the day. The two-way player has three of the Cyclones’ 11 long balls this season.

Later on in the third, 1B Nick Lorusso continued his torrid stretch to the campaign, knocking in a run on an RBI single to shave Brooklyn’s deficit to one. The RBI marked Lorusso’s team leading 14th of the season.

Unfortunately for Brooklyn, that would be the last of the scoring for the night. Aberdeen however, nabbed some insurance down the stretch.

In the sixth, the Ironbirds plated two on the first big fly of the season from their leadoff man RF Tavian Josenberger. One frame later, Aberdeen scratched across another on the fourth Brooklyn error of the day - this time committed by Lorusso, allowing 1B Creed Willems to score and extend Aberdeen’s leads to 6-2, where it would remain for the rest of the contest.

Brooklyn and Aberdeen return to action on Thursday at noon with a highly anticipated expected pitching matchup. RHP Jonah Tong (debut), who did not allow a run across 18.2 innings in Single-A, will make his inaugural Cyclones start, where he’ll oppose RHP Moises Chace (1-0, 1.20 ERA).