Sloppy play and command issues hurt the Brooklyn Cyclones, as they fell to a 2-2 record with a 7-2 loss to the rival Staten Island Yankees.
Carlos Valdez ~ Photo by: Stacy Podelski/ 1495 Sports
“It was a typical Rookie League game and that is all I can tell ya about it,” said Brooklyn Manager Tom Gamboa. “If you would have told me yesterday that we were going to punch out 27 times in a doubleheader and walk 12 and hit a guy, I would have thought for sure we would have got swept and shutout. Not only did we win a game but we were in a position to win them both and unfortunately the same thing happened here tonight.”
Staten Island jumped ahead in the top of the seventh. Ty McFarland ripped the ball to right center, Cyclones right fielder Michael Bernal charged but the ball bounced out of his glove and past him allowing two runs to score, which made it 4-2.
Gamboa thought the ball hit to Bernal, who had two errors, which allowed three runs to score, was a tough play.
“There is no question that he had a tough night tonight. I give their hitter credit, that ball was hit very well, it’s a tough play for an outfielder. The toughest ball in the outfield is when you’re on the run and the ball is below your waist. He just missed it there are no excuses-he just missed it,” he said.
The Cyclones defensive struggles continued in the top of the eighth. Collin Slaybaugh hit the ball towards first which was booted by first baseman Jeffery Diehl and then over run by Bernal, which allowed a run to score.
Later in the frame, Jose Javier made it 6-2 when he grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Gamboa saw his defense struggle behind losing pitcher Gaither Bumgardner, who allowed four unearned runs.
“I thought Bumgardner threw well tonight, better than what I had saw down in Florida,” Gamboa said. “It is a shame that he took the loss but he was victimized by his own defense as we kind of shot ourselves in the foot with three errors behind him,”
Before the play in the field hurt Brooklyn, lack of control got the team behind early. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Cyclones starter Carlos Valdez walked three batters and gave up a single, which put Staten Island ahead early.
In the next inning, Valdez hurt his cause again after he misfired on a pickoff attempt, which allowed Slaybaugh to move to third, after the error he threw a wild pitch to give the Yankees a 2-0 advantage.
Gamboa thought his starter was good but struggles with his command hurt him.
“Carlos Valdez had real good stuff, they didn’t hit him, but he was a victim of himself, as he walked six” said Gamboa. “That basically came in the first couple of innings and led to the runs-we were glad with his pitch count that we was able to get us through four.”
Brooklyn rallied back to tie the game during the bottom of the second as Jhoan Urena reached on a fielder’s choice. Later in the frame Thomas Nido scored on a wild throw from Javier who tried to turn a double play.
In the bottom of the third, Amed Rosario hit hit a sacrifice fly to score Joe Tuschak to knot the game at two. At the end though mistakes in the field cost Brooklyn the opportunity to win the opening series against Staten Island.
Tuschak had himself a fine offensive outing at the dish recording three hits, while five others all recorded a hit in the game.
The Cyclones will have a chance to wipe away these bad memories and rebound with a good game in front of their fans as they host the Hudson Valley Renegades in New York-Penn League action at MCU Ballpark on Tuesday, June 18. First Pitch for that game is set for 7:00 p.m.
1495 Sports is proud to bring this postgame video featuring Brooklyn Cyclones Manager Tom Gamboa:
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