Aberdeen, MD – August 27th – On Monday evening, Brooklyn used a familiar forrmula - the long ball coupled with great starting pitching - to grab a 2-1 victory over the Aberdeen IronBirds. Rainy Lara (8-2) collected his league leading eighth win of the season after tossing 6.0 shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out four.

After two scoreless frames to start the game, the Cyclones took advantage of a pair of IronBirds miscues to draw first blood in the bottom of the third. Richie Rodriguez singled to start the frame and Julio Concepcion reached safely when Aberdeen first baseman Cameron Edman to put a pair of runners on. After Brandon Nimmo popped out for the first out of the inning, Dimas Ponce was next up and hit what looked like it would be an inning ending double play, but Aberdeen second baseman Creede Simpson’s relay throw to first base went wide, allowing Rodriguez to score from second for the first run of the game.

Brooklyn’s lead would swell to 2-0 in the sixth inning, this time it was from their own doing. With two outs, Jayce Boyd connected on a 3-1 offering and sent it down the left field line, just creeping around the foul pole for a solo blast, his third of the season, to expand Brooklyn’s lead to 2-0.

After threatening in the eighth inning, the IronBirds finally broke through in the ninth inning. After being down to their last strike on two occasions, Aberdeen rallied for some two out trouble. Tyler Vanderheiden retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth before Cameron Edman connected on a two-out, two-strike double down the right field line to start the threat. Next up was Manuel Hernandez who was hit by a pitch to put the tying run aboard for Will Howard, who laced a singled into left field that should have loaded the bases, but Julio Concepcion misplayed the ball allowing Edman to score and moved Hernandez, the tying run, to third base. But that is where he would stay as Vanderheiden struck out Chase Weems to end the game and close out Brooklyn’s 2-1 victory.

Tonight’s Cyclones victory coupled with a Batavia rainout expand Brooklyn’s Wild Card lead to 2.5 games with nine games remaining. The Muckdogs, who have 10 games left due to this evening’s rain out, will square off with Mahoning Valley Scrappers for a twin bill on Tuesday evening.

Brooklyn will close out their quick two-game set with the Aberdeen IronBirds on Tuesday evening at Ripken Stadium. RHP Luis Cessa (4-4, 2.50) will toe the rubber for the Cyclones.