Cyclones Claim Twinbill Split with Drive
- BOX SCORE [G1]
- PLAY-BY-PLAY [G1]
- BOX SCORE [G2]
- PLAY-BY-PLAY [G2] GREENVILLE, S.C. (August 31, 2023) — Brooklyn scored five times in the fifth inning in game two to take their first lead of the series, ultimately hanging on to defeat Greenville, 7-4. The Drive took the
GREENVILLE, S.C. (August 31, 2023) — Brooklyn scored five times in the fifth inning in game two to take their first lead of the series, ultimately hanging on to defeat Greenville, 7-4. The Drive took the opening contest, 1-0, as the Cyclones split Thursday’s doubleheader from Fluor Field at the West End.
With Brooklyn’s (33-24, 61-61) doubleheader split and Jersey Shore’s (33-24, 68-54) 5-0 win vs. Aberdeen, the Cyclones are tied with the BlueClaws atop the second-half South Atlantic League North Division standings with nine games left to play.
Greenville (25-32, 61-62) jumped out in front in the finale, scoring in the bottom of the first on a two-out double from CF Allan Castro and a subsequent single from 1B Bryan González.
Brooklyn tied the game quickly in the top of the second. RF Stanley Consuegra powered a triple into right-center field to lead off the frame and quickly scored on 3B William Lugo’s ground out to short.
In the fifth, the Cyclones scampered in front for good. C José Mena, DH Carlos Domínguez, and LF Omar De Los Santos started the inning with three straight singles. SS Jett Williams stepped up and earned a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, giving Brooklyn a 2-1 edge.
After a strikeout and another bases-loaded free pass to 1B Ryan Clifford, Consuegra delivered the decisive blow. The 22-year-old pounded the second pitch he saw down the third-base line and into the corner. All three runners came across to score on Consuegra’s two-base knock, extending the ‘Clones cushion to five, 6-1.
The Drive snatched a run back in the sixth on a SS Eddinson Paulino double to left, but Brooklyn collected the insurance run in return in the seventh.
Leading off the frame, Consuegra reached on an infield single and took second on a throwing error before scooting to third on a wild pitch. Lugo brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right.
Greenville would bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom half of the inning but could not complete the comeback.
DH Roman Anthony doubled and moved to third on a C Kyle Teel single before both scored on a double off the center field wall by Castro, slicing Brooklyn’s lead to three, 7-4.
A wild pitch plus a walk prompted a pitching change. RHP Kolby Kubichek entered and slammed the door shut.
The Bryan, Texas native recorded a five-pitch strikeout and a weak ground ball to first to secure the win and his second save of the season.
Brooklyn used seven different pitchers in the seven-inning victory. RHP Benito García (2-1) tossed a perfect nine-pitch inning to earn the win in relief.
RHP Jawilme Ramírez collected a no-decision, departing after allowing one run on 32 pitches in two-thirds of an inning.
LHP Dalton Rogers (2-6) worked into the fifth but could not pick up an out in the inning, ultimately being charged with five runs on five hits in the defeat.
The lid-lifter was a pitcher’s duel from start the finish. The contest lasted just an hour and 20 minutes, marking the Cyclones' shortest game of any kind in 2023 by 23 minutes.
CF Roman Anthony provided the opener’s only run to lead off the bottom of the first. The 19-year-old powered the fourth pitch of the inning over the wall in left-center field for a solo home run. His 12th in the South Atlantic League gave the Drive a 1-0 advantage.
LHP Felipe De La Cruz (1-1) allowed just one more baserunner the rest of the afternoon. The 22-year-old tossed all six innings for Brooklyn, allowing just one run on two hits, and striking out seven.
De La Cruz was credited with the Cyclones’ first complete game since RHP José Butto tossed six innings in a seven-inning loss at Aberdeen in game one of a doubleheader on June 30, 2021.
LHP Zach Penrod (2-0) extended his scoreless-inning streak to 17.0, tossing six frames of two-hit, eight-strikeout ball to earn his second win in three starts for the Drive.
RHP Brock Bell punched out two in a three-up, three-down seventh, earning his third save.
Brooklyn will continue their playoff chase and even the series on Friday evening. RHP Layonel Ovalles (NR) — the Mets’ No. 28 prospect per Baseball America — is scheduled to make his High-A and Cyclones debut. The Drive are projected to counter with RHP Yordanny Monegro (NR) — the Red Sox’s No. 29 prospect per Baseball America — for his level and team debut. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.