Monday, September 10, 2012

Brooklyn Cyclones: Hudson Valley Showdown; Game Three

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:
Potential Pitchers Duel Awaits Game Three.  Coney Island One Win Away From Fifth Championship Round Appearance.
 


After taking the opening game of their semi final series in Coney Island, the Cyclones took their lumps up in Dutchess Stadium against the Renegades in Game Two.  The teams will play Monday Night Baseball to see who participates in this year's NYPL championship.  Monday's winner will play the victor between the Tri City Valley Cats and Auburn Doubledays.


Hudson Valley finds themselves a game away from the title round after not even making the playoffs since the 1999 season.  In championship play, Brooklyn knows Auburn and the Valley Cats all too well.  The Cyclones dropped championship series to both teams.  Most recently in 2010, the Tri City Valley Cats ended Brooklyn's championship bid.  In 2007, Auburn did the same.  Prior to that, Williamsport put Brooklyn's 2003 championship hopes to bed as well.  With a win Monday evening over the Renegades, Brooklyn will earn a fourth opportunity to win their second title.


The two pitching aces have done their jobs.  Hansel Robles dialed up a performance for the ages Friday evening in Coney Island.  And Sunday evening, Hudson Valley's ace, Jeff Ames reciprocated with a solid effort in Wappingers Falls.  Now for both teams, it is time for the next guy to step up.  Without getting cocky, in the Cyclones case, it's a matter of pick your poison.


Rainy Lara last pitched on September 2nd.  He was 8-3 this season and posted a 2.91 ERA.  Luis Cessa last pitched on September 3rd.  He posted a 5-4 record with a 2.49 ERA.  Gabriel Ynoa tossed the most recent game of Monday's potential starters.  He last pitched on September 4th.  Ynoa was 5-2, with a 2.23 ERA.  All three are well rested.


The Renegades are reportedly going with Taylor Guerrieri in Game Three.  The also have Matthew Spahn and Sean Bierman in reserve.  In twelve starts, Taylor Gerrieri's stats are rather astonishing. Although, you would never know based on his win/loss record.  His record was 1-2 this season.  But in twelve starts and fifty-two innings pitched, he posted a 1.04 ERA, and an 0.77 WHiP.  He limited opposing batters to thirty one hits and issued a mere five walks all season.  He surrendered no home runs, and struck out forty-five batters.


If in fact Taylor Guerrieri makes the start, one of three available Brooklyn pitchers almost assures a classic pitcher's duel for Game Three.  Taylor however, has only averaged three to five innings per start.  All five Brooklyn starting pitchers have been instructed in the art of length this season.  They routinely have pitched into sixth innings of games.  Game Three may very well rest in the hands of the bullpens.  So what else is new?


Brandon Nimmo has been quiet this series.  In Game One, he had a single in four trips to the plate.  He scored one run and drew one walk.  In Game Two, he had one hit in four at bats, and nothing more.  In two games, both teams have an equal amount of hits; sixteen.  But Hudson Valley has now outscored Brooklyn eight runs to five.



TONIGHT
New York Penn League ~ Division Semi Finals
GAME THREE
BROOKLYN CYCLONES
vs.
Hudson Valley Renegades
FROM
Dutchess Stadium
New York



UPDATED 9/10/12:
GAME THREE - Pitching Match-Up; Luis Cessa vs. Taylor Guerrieri





Mike.BTB

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