Suero Sends Cyclones To Extra-Inning Victory Over Emperors

• BOX SCORE

ROME, Ga. (May 10, 2024) — C Chris Suero provided an RBI double in the eighth and the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the 10^th, as the Brooklyn Cyclones snapped a brief two-game slide with a 6-3 win in 10 innings over the Rome Emperors on Friday night at AdventHealth Stadium.

Tied at two entering the eighth, SS William Lugo sparked a rally with a one-out single. After a fly-out, Suero stepped in and roped a ball down the line in left.

With two out, Lugo was off and contact and raced around from first base to score the go-ahead run without a throw. Suero’s RBI double — his first South Atlantic League extra-base hit and RBI — placed Brooklyn (17-14) in front for the first time, 3-2.

1st SAL Extra-Base Hit for Chris Suero is a BIG one 🔥

Suero puts us in the driver's seat, 3-2. We're up by a run in the 9th.#AmazinStartsHere | #LGM pic.twitter.com/SIMH8Od2da

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) May 11, 2024

However, the Cyclones could not close it out in regulation. LF Ethan Workinger coaxed a leadoff walk before taking second on a ground out and advancing to third on a RF Stephen Paolini single.

Following a pitching change, SS Ambioris Tavarez hit a potential double-play ball to short, but Brooklyn was unable to turn two. The Cyclones recorded the force out at second, but Tavarez beat the throw to first. The run from third scored on the fielder’s choice to tie it at three.

In the 10^th, Brooklyn benefited from a pair of Emperors’ miscues. Lugo reached on a throwing error to start the inning, advancing the automatic runner to third base. Following a strike out, Suero lofted a sacrifice fly to left, placing the Cyclones back in front, 4-3.

CF Omar De Los Santos kept the rally going with a single and LF Karell Paz loaded the bases when he reached on the second throwing error of the inning.

2B Wilfredo Lara hit what appeared to be an inning-ending grounder up the middle, but the shortstop’s flip to get the force at second pulled the second baseman off the bag. By the time Rome recovered, Lugo and De Los Santos scampered home safely to stretch the ‘Clones advantage to a game-high three, 6-3.

RHP Victor Castañeda (2-1) slammed the door shut in the bottom of the 10^th. The 25-year-old induced a foul pop-up to third and registered a pair of swinging strikeouts to secure the victory.

The Emperors squeaked out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a pair of run-scoring doubles by 3B Sabin Ceballos and 2B E.J. Exposito.

Brooklyn tied the game in the fifth after De Los Santos walked, stole second, and Paz was hit by a pitch. Following a fielder’s choice ground-out put men at the corners, DH Ryan Clifford slapped a single through the left side of the infield. De Los Santos scored on the knock, but an errant toss into second base enabled Lara to score from first base, knotting the contest at two.

Ryan Clifford pulls us even!

2nd hit of the night - and fifth of the series - for our guy Cliff, and we're knotted up at 2 in the fifth.#AmazinStartsHere | #LGM pic.twitter.com/blgwxn3n8T

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) May 11, 2024

Neither starter received a decision on Friday. RHP Nolan McLean’s scoreless inning streak ended after 15.1 innings, but still matched a career-best with five innings of two-run ball, striking out five for Brooklyn. Rome’s RHP Drue Hackenberg punched out five but walked four over 5.1 innings.

Castañeda earned his second win of the season, posting 1.2 frames of shutout and hitless relief.

RHP Rob Griswold (0-2) suffered his second defeat after permitting three unearned runs in the extra frame.

The Cyclones will try and make it back-to-back victories on Saturday. RHP Douglas Orellana (0-0, 1.33 ERA) is expected to make his third start of the season for Brooklyn. Rome is scheduled to counter with the Atlanta Braves’ No. 13 prospect per Baseball America, RHP Jhancarlos Lara (0-0, 0.00 ERA). The first pitch is slated for 5 p.m.