Brooklyn Cyclones Recap: Vargas Walks Off Wilmington in BK debut as 'Clones Tally Franchise Record Nine Steals

 

Marco Vargas, photo courtesy of MiLB.com/brooklyn

Box Score: Eli Serrano*  LF 1 for 5; double; 1 run; 3 RBIs; 1 K; Marco Vargas*  SS 1 for 5; 2 RBIs; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Jacob Reimer  3B 1 for 4; 1 walk; 1 K; Carson Benge*  CF 4 for 5; 2 doubles; 2 runs; 1 K; A.J. Ewing*  RF 1 for 5; 2 Ks; Jesus Baez  DH 1 for 5; 1 run; 1 RBI; 1 K; Boston Baro*  2B 0 for 3; 1 run; 1 RBI; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Chris Suero  C 0 for 2; 2 runs; 3 walks; 2 Ks; Estarling Mercado*  1B 0 for 3; 2 walks; Noah Hall   5 innings; 4 runs; 3 ERs; 5 hits; 1 walk; 7 Ks; Anthony Nunez  (BS, 1) 2 innings; 1 run; 1 hit; 3 Ks; Justin Lawson   2 innings; 1 run; 1 ER; 2 hits; 3 Ks; Saul García  (W, 1-0) 1 inning; no runs; 1 K;

Brooklyn Cyclones Press Release (reprinted from milb.com/brooklyn by permission)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - In his first game with High-A Brooklyn, 19-year-old SS Marco Vargas provided a walk-off base hit in the 10th to give the Cyclones a 7-6 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. 

Brooklyn set a new franchise record, stealing nine bases in the game, topping a previous high of eight, which was set in August of 2017. 

CF Carson Benge logged a season high four hits in the victory, while LF Eli Serrano III collected 3 RBI. In addition to the nine steals, Brooklyn batters also drew eight free passes on the day. 

RHP Noah Hall pitched better than his final line may suggest - 5.0 IP, 4 R (3 ER), while striking out seven and walking one. 

The Blue Rocks scratched across the game’s first run in the top half of the second. With men on the corners and two gone, Hall was called for a balk that allowed C Caleb Lomavita to score from third, just before a strikeout ended the frame. 

Brooklyn responded immediately. With a pair of runners on and only one away, LF Eli Serrano III started his home stand with a bang, lacing a two double to left to put Brooklyn in front for the first time. 

Wilmington seized momentum right back in the third, when Hall allowed his first home run of the season: a two run shot by SS Seaver King that barely stayed fair on the right side of the left field foul pole.

 An RBI groundout from RF Brenner Cox extended the Wilmington lead to 4-2 in the top of the 4th

In the bottom half, Brooklyn scratched across a run courtesy of an RBI groundout from Vargas - good for his first career High-A RBI. 

In the fifth, the ‘Clones pulled even on a sac fly from 2B Boston Baro, and would eventually take the lead when Serrano was hit with the bases loaded to put Brooklyn in front. 

Wilmington’s bats came back for more in the 7th, thanks to a sac fly from 3B Marcus Brown to tie the game at 5-5. That was the first run allowed all year by Cyclones reliever RHP Anthony Nunez, in his 7th appearance of the year. 

The Blue Rocks pulled out in front in the 8th thanks to an RBI single from 1B Brandon Boissiere. 

Still, the Brooklyn bats continued to give Wilmington arms a tough time. In the home half of the eighth, DH Jesus Baez tied the game with an RBI single to plate Benge. 

Neither team scratched anything across in the 9th. In the 10th, RHP Saul Garcia did not allow the ghost runner to come home, putting Brooklyn in prime position to walk it off in the home half. 

After Serrano advanced to third on a balk, Vargas provided the game-winning RBI single to win the game for Brooklyn. 

The ‘Clones and Blue Rocks return to action on Wednesday at 11:00 AM for the first Education Day game of the season. RHP Joel Diaz (0-0, 0.00 ERA) toes the slab for Brooklyn. He’s expected to be opposed by LHP Jackson Kent (2-2, 1.31 WHIP).

Carson Benge is locked in at the dish 🔒

The @Mets' No. 3 prospect racked up a career-high four hits for the High-A @BKCyclones in his third straight multi-hit game. pic.twitter.com/eazdvwXFCq

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 30, 2025

STAY HOT, SERRANO! 🔥

The @NCStateBaseball alum uncorks a two-run double to left to start the scoring for the ‘Clones tonight.

Wilmington holds a 3-2 lead, as we play in the bottom of the third. #AmazinStartsHere pic.twitter.com/dJIjzTbVzv

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) April 29, 2025

Anthony Nunez does what Anthony Nunez does best - Ks the side in the 6th. He now has 15 Ks in 10 innings @BKCyclones up 5-4. @JustinRocke #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing @bkfan09 @WexlerRules @bronxfanatic @ImAriBeRKO @draftniks @TheBaseballHut… pic.twitter.com/9GCG8V3I9r

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) April 30, 2025

Anthony Nunez is human - in tonight's @BKCyclones win he allows his first hit and first run - though unearned due to his error. Cyclones win in extras 7-6. In total: 0.00 ERA in 10.2 innings, 18 Ks, 1 hit, 4 walks, 0.47 WHIP. #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing… pic.twitter.com/HpdKtlZz5p

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) April 30, 2025

Jesus Baez gets Brooklyn back to even with an RBI single in the bottom of the 8th. We're tied at 6-6 as we head to the 9th on Coney Island. pic.twitter.com/EYkBcjtQwe

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) April 30, 2025

Celebrate a Cyclones Victory! Marco Vargas singles in Eli Serrano III and the @BKCyclones win 7-6 on Tuesday. @JustinRocke #Mets #LGM #MetsTwitter @ernestdove @FarmToFlushing @bkfan09 @WexlerRules @bronxfanatic @ImAriBeRKO @draftniks @TheBaseballHut @BrianGerhauser @HHec13… pic.twitter.com/odl9vitDeA

— Mets News and Links (@JohnFromAlbany) April 30, 2025