Tong Hurls Five One-Hit Frames as ‘Clones Surge Back into Win Column
BOX SCORE BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Behind five shutout innings from RHP Jonah Tong during which he struck out seven, the Brooklyn Cyclones ended their three game skid, defeating the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 2-1. The Markham, Ontario native’s seven punch outs are one shy of his Brooklyn career high. The 21-year-old
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Behind five shutout innings from RHP Jonah Tong during which he struck out seven, the Brooklyn Cyclones ended their three game skid, defeating the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 2-1. The Markham, Ontario native’s seven punch outs are one shy of his Brooklyn career high. The 21-year-old picked up the victory, while RHPs Ben Simon and Jeffrey Colon earned holds, followed by RHP Josh Hejka notching his fourth save of the year.
Jonah Tong 🇨🇦 this evening:
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) June 21, 2024
🔸 Win
🔹 5.0 Innings
🔸 1 hit
🔹 0 Runs
🔸 7 strikeouts
🔹 3 walks#AmazinStartsHere I #LGM I #MiLB pic.twitter.com/h5d9DXNnDw
Jersey Shore entered the contest needing a win and Greensboro loss if it wanted to clinch the first half crown in the North Division of the SAL. That said, Greensboro defeated Hudson Valley as Brooklyn and Jersey Shore were still playing, so even a win for the BlueClaws would not have been enough for them to ink a playoff spot.
Brooklyn mashed five doubles on the night, good for all but one of their six hits. The five extra base hits are one shy of the most Brooklyn has logged in a contest this year. 3B Nick Lorusso clobbered two doubles himself, while also drawing a walk. SS Wilfredo Lara, 2B Junior Tilien and C Christian Pregent also logged a two-bagger for the ‘Clones.
The Cyclones scratched across all their offense in the bottom of the second. The inning started with a bang, as Lara and Tilien got to LHP Sam Aldegheri quickly with consecutive doubles to begin the frame. After Aldegheri struck out RF Kellum Clark for the inning’s first out, Pregent kept the line moving with an RBI double of his own to push the Brooklyn lead to 2-0. Following a passed ball that allowed Pregent to take third, Aldegheri struck out the next two batters to retire the side.
The BlueClaws did proceed to get one back in the sixth. After Simon retired the first two batters of the frame, a ground ball through the middle off the bat of 3B Erick Brito put a runner on with two away. Then, Brito proceeded to steal second, and would later score on an RBI base knock from 2B William Bergolla to spoil the shutout.
Still, that would be all the BlueClaws could muster offensively. Following a roughly 20 minute delay due to an umpire injury, Colon relieved Simon and tossed only one pitch - a pop out from LF Emaarion Boyd to get Brooklyn out of the frame.
Jersey Shore threatened in the ninth as well. With men on first and second and only one away, Hejka came up big with a strikeout followed by a fly out to put the icing on the cake.
Brooklyn and Jersey Shore will ring in the second half of the 2024 regular season on Friday night at Maimonides Park at 7:00. RHP Kade Morris (1-1, 5.32 ERA) takes the ball for Brooklyn on his birthday, where he is expected to oppose RHP Eiberson Castellano (3-2, 4.35 ERA) for the BlueClaws.