Sproat Shines, But ‘Clones Clipped By ‘Claws

• BOX SCORE

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (April 16, 2024) — DH Mateo Gil powered his first home run of the season and RHP Brandon Sproat tossed four innings of one-run ball, but the Jersey Shore BlueClaws bested the Brooklyn Cyclones, 3-1, on Tuesday night at ShoreTown Ballpark.

Scoreless through two innings, Gil led off the third inning with a charge. The 23-year-old sent a towering fly ball to left-center field that rattled over the fence and back onto the field of play for a solo home run. His first home run of the season provided Brooklyn (4-6) a 1-0 advantage.

Mateo Gil opens the scoring with hit first home run of the season - a solo shot in the top of the 3rd - to give the 'Clones a 1-0 edge against the Blue Claws.#AmazinStartsHere pic.twitter.com/JsScrUcs6L

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) April 16, 2024

However, the lead did not last long, as Jersey Shore (6-4) retaliated with a solo shot in the fourth. DH Leandro Pineda started the inning with a big fly onto the right-field berm — his first of the season — to tie the score at one.

It remained even until the BlueClaws capitalized on a throwing error in the sixth. LF Emaarion Boyd reached on an infield single to ignite the attack, but instead of being picked off first, the throw sailed up the right-field line.

With Boyd now at third with nobody out, CF Justin Crawford hit a tapper toward the first-base chalk line. RHP Diosmerky Taveras fielded the ball, but his only play was to first base, allowing the run from third to score, giving Jersey Shore a 2-1 advantage.

In the eighth, Jersey Shore tacked on an insurance run. Crawford roped a one-out single to center and swiped second base before taking third on a ground out.

3B Otto Kemp came to the plate with two outs and hit a grounder up the middle. 2B Junior Tilien made an impressive backhand stop, but his off-balance throw to first was late. Crawford scored on the Kemp infield knock to stretch the BlueClaws’ cushion to two, 3-1.

Brooklyn managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but a pop-up to first and a fielder’s choice ground ball to short ended the contest.

Sproat impressed in his second professional start. The 23-year-old went four innings and allowed just one run on three hits, walking two and striking out five in a no-decision.

Taveras (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Brooklyn despite allowing just one unearned run and whiffing four batters over two innings.

LHP Braeden Fausnaught (2-0) collected his second-straight win for Jersey Shore, hurling six innings of one-run, two-hit ball with nine strikeouts. RHP Charles King recorded the final three outs for his second save.

The Cyclones will look to even the series at a win apiece on Wednesday night. RHP Nolan McLean (0-0, 0.00) — the Mets’ No. 19 prospect per MLB Pipeline — is scheduled to make his second start of the season for Brooklyn. Jersey Shore is expected to counter with RHP Starlyn Castillo (0-1, 12.00. The first pitch from ShoreTown Ballpark is slated for 6:35 p.m.