Cards close out 2005 with win

AUGUSTA — The New Jersey Cardinals ended their New York-Pennsylvania League season last Thursday night with a 5-2 win over the Brooklyn Cyclones at Skylands Park. The Cards swept the two-game series and finished the season on a three-game winning streak. The Cards finished with a record of 37-39, while Brooklyn finished at 40-36. In their final game, the Cards jumped on top 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, getting the first two men aboard. Following a leadoff single by Randy Roth, Richie Cormier reached on a throwing error by the second baseman. The Cards then loaded the bases when Yonathan Sivira walked. They got their first run of the night on Kevin Richmond's ground ball to first, scoring Roth, and then got their second run on Daniel Nelson's grounder to third. The Cards expanded their lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the third inning after Calvin Hayes and Adam Rodgers led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Chad Gabriel hit a triple down the right-field line, scoring both Hayes and Rodgers. Gabriel then scored on Richie Cormier's sacrifice fly to center for the final Cardinals' run of the night. The Cyclones cut into the lead with a couple of runs in the top of the fifth to make it 5-2, but they were unable to get any other rallies going against the Cards' pitching staff. Adam Daniels started and lasted five innings, giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out six, finishing the season at 2-1. Mike Schellinger worked the final four innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven batters to pick up his first professional save. The Cards were led offensively by the middle of the order, Rodgers, Gabriel and Roth, who combined to go 6-11 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Joe D'Alessandro took the loss for Brooklyn, as he finished the season with a record of 1-2.