Emperors spun out by Cyclones in extra innings
The Rome Emperors dropped their second straight game to open their series at Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon, falling 2-1 in extra innings to the Cyclones.
Rome (44-46, 8-18 in second half) and Brooklyn (43-49, 1016) were locked in a scoreless pitchers’ duel for nine innings as the game went to extras.
The Emperors took the lead in the top of the 10th on an RBI single by Adam Zebrowski, but the Cyclones rallied for two in the bottom half to secure the win. Brooklyn’s Kellum Clark drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the tying run before Wilfredo Lara ended it with a walk-off single to drive in the second.
Rome’s pitchers were strong on the mound, but they were not helped by much run support as the Emperors were held to just one run on five hits and stranded six runners on base.
Jhancarlos Lara started for Rome and went six shutout innings, allowing two hits, striking out six and walking two in a no-decision. Shay Schanaman followed with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as he gave up one hit and struck out one. Jared Johnson then picked up right where Schanaman left off with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief, walking two and striking out one.
Isaac Gallegos (0-1) took the loss and suffered his first blown save for the Emperors as he pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Aside from Zebrowski’s RBI single, four other Emperors had one hit, including Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. and Sabin Ceballos, who both had a single and a walk.