BROOKLYN, N.Y. - In front of 5,072 fans on Irish Night, the Cyclones dropped a pitchers’ duel with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 2-1, on Friday night. Both teams allowed just two hits on the night, while Brooklyn did not register its first hit until the 8th inning. All three runs in the game on both sides were unearned.
RHP Ryan Dombrowski twirled 4.0 no-hit innings for Jersey Shore (16-29, 42-68), walking one and striking out four while allowing just the one unearned run. LHP Kevin Warunek earned his first win of the season with 1.2 hitless innings, and LHP Juan Amarante picked up the save with five strikeouts over the final 3.1 innings.
In his first home start with the Cyclones, RHP Luke Gabrysh was nearly perfect. The former BlueClaw worked 4.0 innings allowing just a two-out single in the 3rd while striking out six.
Brooklyn’s arms matched Jersey Shore’s staff throughout the night. Gabrysh, LHP Luis R. Rodriguez, RHPs Rafi Vazquez, Elwis Mijares and Ryan Dollar allowed the two unearned runs on a combined two hits with no walks while striking out 14. The Cyclones’ relievers retired the final 14 BlueClaws they faced.
Brooklyn (23-22, 48-62) opened the scoring in the 3rd inning with what can only be described as the luck of the Irish. Despite not recording a hit in the inning, the Cyclones had runners on the corners after a walk and an error. SS Sammy Stafura hit a fly ball to right field, and RF Devin Saltiban’s throw beat 3B Antonio Jimenez to the plate, but the 22-year-old managed to sneak his left hand in before the tag to put Brooklyn ahead, 1-0.
With Rodriguez in the game in the 5th, Jersey Shore took the lead due to a pair of defensive miscues for the Cyclones. Errors by 2B Colin Houck and 1B Ronald Hernandez sandwiching an infield hit led to the BlueClaws scoring two unearned runs to go in front, 2-1.
After breaking the shutout in the 3rd, Jimenez broke Jersey Shore’s no-hit bid with one out in the 8th with his second triple in as many nights. Amarante struck out the next two batters to strand the tying run.
Hernandez ripped a single up the middle with one out in the bottom of the 9th, but the Cyclones’ comeback attempt was stopped there. Amarante struck out two in the inning to close out the game and even the series for Jersey Shore at 2-2.
The Cyclones and BlueClaws return to action on Saturday night for Star Wars Night. RHP José Chirinos (1-6, 4.61 ERA) is expected to make the start for the Cyclones. Jersey Shore is expected to counter with RHP Tanner Gresham (2-4, 5.40). First pitch from Maimonides Park is scheduled for 6:00 P.M.