Rome Rolls Past Brooklyn, 8-2, In Series Finale

Nick Morabito picks up three hits, as Cyclones settle for series split

CF Nick Morabito picked up his first multi-hit game with the Cyclones and at the High-A leve, registering a team-high three hits. However, Brooklyn dropped the series finale to the Rome Emperors, 8-2, on Sunday afternoon at AdventHealth Stadium. (Rome Emperors)

By Justin Rocke

May 12, 2024

• BOX SCORE ROME, Ga. (May 12, 2024) — CF Nick Morabito picked up the first multi-hit game of his High-A and Cyclones career, tallying three knocks, but the Rome Emperors eked out an 8-2 victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday afternoon at AdventHealth Stadium. The Emperors (17-14) jumped

• BOX SCORE

ROME, Ga. (May 12, 2024) — CF Nick Morabito picked up the first multi-hit game of his High-A and Cyclones career, tallying three knocks, but the Rome Emperors eked out an 8-2 victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday afternoon at AdventHealth Stadium.

The Emperors (17-14) jumped on the scoreboard first on SS E.J. Exposito’s South Atlantic League-leading eighth home run, a solo shot to left-center.

In the third, Rome stayed on the offensive, loading the bases with two out on a pair of walks and a CF Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. single. RF Stephen Paolini would empty the bags with a three-run double to right-center, extending the Emperors’ cushion to 4-0.

Brooklyn (18-15) started to chip away in the top of the fourth. Morabito began the inning with a double down the line in left and scored two batters later on 1B Nick Lorusso’s single to left. SS William Lugo followed with a run-scoring two-base hit of his own, to pull the Cyclones within a pair, 4-2.

However, that was as close as Brooklyn would get, as Rome exploded for a three-spot in the sixth.

The Emperors began the frame with four straight batters reaching base, scoring a pair on a double from 3B Nick Ward and a single by C Nick Clarno. Following a double play, 2B Carlos Arroyo roped an RBI knock to push Rome’s advantage to a game-high five, 7-2.

Rome would push across one last run in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded walk to Clarno.

RHP Lucas Braun (2-1) earned his second win of the season for the Emperors, allowing two runs and registering a season-high eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Cyclones LHP Felipe De La Cruz (1-4) was saddled with his fourth defeat. The 22-year-old permitted four runs on four hits in 2.2 frames, whiffing four.

Following the league-wide off day on Monday, the Brooklyn Cyclones will continue their two-week road trip with a six-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, starting on Tuesday night. Neither team has announced a probable starter for the lid-lifter. The first pitch from Bowling Green Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.