BROOKLYN, N.Y. - It's quickly becoming a lost season for the Jamestown Jammers.
After battling for the top spot in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division standings for much of the season, Jamestown dropped below .500 for the first time all season after a 5-2 loss to the Brooklyn Cyclones Thursday at MCU Park.
Heading into Friday's series finale with Brooklyn, Jamestown is 29-30 and has lost 10 of its last 13 games. It is now six games behind division leading Auburn and has nine games remaining on its current 12-game road trip with stops in Williamsport, State College and Mahoning Valley still on the docket before the Jammers return home to Diethrick Park on August 29.
In a game delayed by rain for more than an hour, Jamestown made a 1-0 lead stand up into the fifth inning before the Cyclones tied things at 1-1. In the seventh, Brooklyn (34-24) tore into Jammers' relief pitcher Holden Sprague to take a 5-1 lead. Sprague took the loss and allowed four runs on two hits with three walks - all without retiring a batter.
Jamestown's offense wasn't much better in Thursday's loss, collecting only four hits in the outing. The first two hits were third inning singles by Pedro Mendoza and Austin Barnes while the last two were ninth inning singles by Barnes and Nestor Castillo.
Jamestown was able to turn the first two hits into a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Barnes' single led off the inning and he stole second with two outs. After Barnes moved to third on a wild pitch, Ryan Goetz walked to set up an RBI single by Mendoza.
Brooklyn tied the game with a run in the fifth when Cole Frenzel raced home from third after a wild pitch by Brad Mincey. However, it was the seventh inning in which the Cyclones did much of their damage.
With Sprague on the bump, Brian Harrison led off with a walk and scored on an RBI double by Frenzel. Frenzel advanced to third on the throw and scored to make it 3-1 on a wild pitch. Before the inning was over, Brooklyn pushed the edge to four on an RBI double from Daniel Muno and a sacrifice fly by Richard Lucas.
After being held without a hit for five straight innings, the Jammers made some noise in the ninth inning. Castillo singled with two outs and moved to second on defensive indifference. Castillo scored on a Barnes single, but that was as close as Jamestown would get on this night.
Jamestown 001 000 001 - 2 4 0
Brooklyn 000 010 40x - 5 8 2
2b-Cole Frenzel (B), Daniel Muno (B). WP-Tyler Pill. LP-Holden Sprague.