Brooklyn Battles, But Drops Nail-Biter To Bowling Green, 6-5

• BOX SCORE

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (May 17, 2024) — The Cyclones were handed their fifth-consecutive defeat in gut-wrenching fashion on Friday night, as a bases-loaded walk to 2B Hunter Haas chased in the winning run, as the Bowling Green Hot Rods walked-off Brooklyn, 6-5, at Bowling Green Ballpark.

Tied at three entering the ninth, the Cyclones (18-19) rallied to regain the lead.

2B Jefrey De Los Santos started the inning with a single before taking second on a wild pitch and then third on C Chris Suero’s single to right. RF Omar De Los Santos followed with a sacrifice fly to center to give Brooklyn a 4-3 advantage.

The attack did not stop there, as 1B Karell Paz followed by lacing a ball into the left-center field gap. Suero scampered home, as the 24-year-old slid in at third with a run-scoring triple, extending the cushion to a pair, 5-3.

However, Bowling Green (21-16) would not be denied in the bottom of the frame.

After DH Jhon Díaz led off the inning with a single to right, a strikeout and a fielder’s choice brought Brooklyn within one out of victory.

Alas, the Hot Rods would snatch the win without the benefit of another base hit.

CF Chandler Simpson and 1B Xavier Isaac walked to load the bases and, following a pitching change, SS Brayden Taylor was plunked, while LF Tre’ Morgan and Hass earned free passes to chase in the tying and winning runs.

Bowling Green squirted out to a 1-0 lead on 3B Ryan Spikes’ solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, but Brooklyn promptly tied it in the top of the sixth on SS Junior Tilien’s RBI single.

In the seventh, the Cyclones took their first lead of the night when CF Stanley Consuegra doubled and came across to score on Suero’s two-run home run to left. The 20-year-old’s third of the year — and first in the South Atlantic League — provided a 3-1 lead.

Bowling Green quickly drew even in the bottom of the frame when two runs scored on Isaac’s infield single up the middle.

Neither starter factored into the decision on Friday night. RHP Douglas Orellana tied a season-high with five innings of work for Brooklyn, striking out six and yielding one run. Bowling Green’s RHP Alex Cook departed with an apparent injury two pitches into the sixth inning. The 23-year-old did not allow a run on two hits, punching out five.

Despite allowing two runs in the ninth, RHP JJ Goss (2-0) was awarded his second win of the year in relief for the Hot Rods. Cyclones’ RHP Dakota Hawkins (1-1) was saddled with his first defeat after permitting three runs in two frames.

The Cyclones will try and return to the win column on Saturday night. LHP Felipe De La Cruz (1-4, 3.38) is expected to take the hill for the Cyclones. The Hot Rods are projected to counter with the Tampa Bay Rays’ No. 10 prospect per Baseball America, RHP Yoniel Curet (1-4, 4.31). The first pitch is slated for 7:35 p.m. ET.