BROOKLYN, NY - After committing three-errors last night against Hudson Valley, the Cyclones were on top of their game defensively and were able to regain the clutch hitting that got them four wins in their first six games, coming from behind to defeat the Aberdeen Ironbirds 5-4.

After giving up three runs in the first inning, Cyclones starting pitcher Nick Waechter didn’t look like he had his best stuff. However, thanks to miserable defense by the Ironbirds and timely hitting by Brooklyn first baseman Lucas Duda, the Mets single-A affiliate managed to tie the game in the second.

“Tonight we came ready to play,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “This team has great chemistry and worked hard for all nine innings. No one gives up on this team.”

The Ironbirds would strike back quickly however, as former major-leaguer Bubba Trammell, who’s on a rehab assignment recovering from a torn meniscus he suffered in spring training with the Orioles, would stroke a double that would send another runner home, giving the Baltimore single-A affiliate a 4-3 lead.

“I struggled a little bit,” said Waechter, who left the game after giving up four earned runs and six hits in five innings. “But I knew I had to buckle down and let my defense make the plays for me.”

Replacing Waechter in the sixth was side-arming right-hander David Koons, who would keep the score at 4-3 going into the seventh. However, the Cyclones were unable to muster offense off of Aberdeen starter Zach Britton and a combination of Joe Esposito and Jake Smith, who would limit Brooklyn to just two hits through the game’s first seven innings.

Ryan Oullette would then come out of the Aberdeen bullpen in the eighth, replacing Smith and would give up three hits and two runs in the inning, as a JR Voyles single would score Ender Chavez and a Jason Jacobs triple would score Voyles, giving the ‘Clones a 5-4 lead going into the ninth inning.

“He needed that hit right there,” said Alfonzo “The first three or four games, he’s been struggling a little bit and he got it at the right time.”

Stephen Clyne would then come out of the Brooklyn bullpen and earn his second save of the season after Koons hurled three scoreless frames. Despite hitting a batter and walking another with two outs, Clyne still managed to put the finishing touches on a come from behind 5-4 win.

“This team is never going to give up,” said Jacobs. “We’re going to fight you tooth and nail to the very end.”

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