Brooklyn Battles Back, Drops Heartbreaker to Wilmington

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WILMINGTON, Del. (May 12, 2023) — Trailing by four after three innings, the Cyclones rallied with two in the fourth and three more in the top of the ninth to jump in front. However, the Blue Rocks tallied two runs with two out in the bottom of the ninth, as Wilmington walked off Brooklyn, 8-7, on Friday night at Frawley Stadium.

Trailing 6-4 to start the ninth inning, the Cyclones (11-17) loaded the bases with nobody out on a hit-by-pitch and back-to-back singles from C Drake Osborn and DH Joe Suozzi.

After a one-out wild pitch scored RF Omar De Los Santos to make it a one-run affair, a line drive to third created the second out of the frame.

Down to their final out, SS Kevin Kendall smashed a line drive back up the middle and into center field. Two runs scored on the former La Mirada, Calif. native's double, giving Brooklyn a 7-6 advantage.

The Cyclones retired the first two batters to start the bottom of the ninth, but could not register the final out.

On a 2-1 pitch, Wilmington LF Jared McKenzie clocked a solo home run to right — his first of the year — to tie the game at seven.

Following a RF Jeremy De La Rosa single, a wild pitch, and a walk to pinch-hitter Jacob Young put two runners aboard. 1B Leandro Emiliani sent a flare down the right-field line for a single to bring in pinch-runner Nick Shumpert, providing the Blue Rocks (15-15) with an 8-7 walk-off win.

Brooklyn started quickly on Friday night. Kendall banged the first pitch of the game for a triple off the right-field wall and promptly came home on CF Stanley Consuegra’s two-run blast to left-center. The 22-year-old’s team-leading fifth home run gave the Cyclones a 2-0 edge.

Wilmington answered in a big way in the bottom of the third. A two-RBI single from C Onix Vega knotted the game at two and — following a double from 3B Trey Lipscomb — De La Rosa smashed a three-run homer off the video board in right-center. His first long ball of the year put the Blue Rocks ahead, 5-2. Emiliani capped the six-run inning with an RBI double.

In the top of the fourth, the ‘Clones trimmed the lead in half. LF Jaylen Palmer doubled and scored on a knock from De Los Santos. Suozzi drove in a second run with a ground out to second.

Neither starter received a decision on Friday. Cyclones RHP Joander Suárez departed with two outs in the third inning after yielding six runs. RHP Kyle Luckham surrendered a season-high four runs over five frames for the Blue Rocks.

Despite permitting three runs in the ninth, RHP Jack Sinclair earned his third win of the year for Wilmington. Brooklyn’s RHP Trey McLoughlin suffered his first defeat of 2023.

Brooklyn will try and even the series at three wins apiece on Saturday night. RHP Tyler Stuart (0-0, 1.74) is projected to take the hill for the Cyclones against the Blue Rocks RHP Chance Huff (2-1, 4.50). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from Frawley Stadium.