By Jerry Del Priore
It took 10 innings, but the Brooklyn Cyclones (35, 25, New York Mets) upended the Vermont Lake Monsters, 2-1, Thursday at a sweltering MCU Park behind excellent pitching from starter Josh Walker and reliever Tylor Megill, plus a Vermont (27-30, Oakland) extra-inning throwing error.
Behind in the bottom of the tenth, infielder Chandler Avant laid down a bunt that Lake Monster third baseman Jonah Bride fielded and threw away, allowing outfielder Anthony Dirocie and catcher Nick Meyer to score from first and second, respectively, for the walk-off win.
The six-foot-six Walker delivered five innings of impressive three-hit scoreless ball, while Megill tossed four frames with zero runs permitted, while whiffing a career-high eight batters, the most for a Cyclones reliever this season.
Andrew Mitchell (1-0), who allowed an unearned run, picked up the victory. Dominican Republic outfielder Jose Medina stroked 2-3 with a stolen base.
Brooklyn has won a season-best six straight tilts and is tied for first place for the wild card spot with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Cleveland Indians).
Facing a crucial time of the campaign, the Cyclones enter Friday’s series opener with New York-Penn League’s McNamara division-leading Hudson Valley (Tampa Bay Rays) one game back in the standings.
