Brooklyn Battles, Drops Heartbreaker to Aberdeen

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ABERDEEN, Md. (June 13, 2023) — Despite a season-high three home runs from CF Omar De Los Santos, LF Jaylen Palmer, and 3B Mateo Gil, Brooklyn could not squeeze out a victory. Aberdeen rallied for two in the ninth — winning on a walk-off wild pitch — as the IronBirds bested the Cyclones, 8-7, on Tuesday night from Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

The Cyclones (24-33) started quickly thanks to the long ball. De Los Santos smashed a solo shot out to left in the second to put Brooklyn in front and Palmer added one of his own — off of the batter’s eye in center — in the fourth. De Los Santos’ fourth home run and Palmer’s third pull Brooklyn ahead, 2-0.

In the fifth, Aberdeen (29-28) jumped in front. CF Jud Fabian began the frame with a double and stole third before SS Jackson Holliday walked and swiped second. A two-run double from 3B Max Wagner knotted the game at two.

Following a pitching change, RF Dylan Beavers slapped a run-scoring single to left to place the IronBirds in front, 3-2.

The lead did not last, as Brooklyn erupted in the top of the sixth. C Kevin Parada coaxed a walk to start the inning but did not advance to second until a two-out wild pitch.

De Los Santos was plunked by a pitch to put a pair of runners aboard before 2B D’Andre Smith ripped a game-tying base-hit to right. 1B Chase Estep promptly added a go-ahead RBI knock to center, providing the Cyclones with a 4-3 advantage.

With a new pitcher on, Gil whacked the first pitch he threw around the pole in left for a three-run home run. The 22-year-old’s team-leading sixth blast of the campaign put Brooklyn ahead by four, 7-3.

Alas, it was all Aberdeen from that point forward. Beavers clocked a solo home run — his fourth — in the bottom of the seventh and added a two-run double in the eighth to trim the deficit down to one, 7-6.

In the ninth, consecutive walks to LF Toby Welk and DH Silas Ardoin started the frame. After both were lifted for pinch runners, Luis Valdéz and Douglas Hodo III snatched third and second, respectively. A fielder’s choice erased Valdéz at the plate, but another walk to Fabian loaded the bases.

Trailing a pitching change, Holliday slapped a single to left to bring in the tying run.

With the game even at eight, a wild pitch enabled pinch-runner Isaac De León to cross with the winning run, providing Aberdeen with an 8-7 victory.

Neither starter received a decision on Tuesday. RHP Cameron Foster permitted three runs over four-plus innings for Brooklyn, while RHP Jean Pinto yielded two tallies over five frames for Aberdeen.

The IronBirds’ RHP Carson Carter (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his first win of the season.

RHP Manny Rodríguez (1-2) walked three and was saddled with his second defeat for the ‘Clones.

On Wednesday evening, Brooklyn will look for revenge in game two of the series. RHP Joander Suárez (1-4, 8.02) is slated to take the hill for the Cyclones. Aberdeen is projected to give the ball to RHP Daniel Lloyd (2-2, 4.30). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.