BKN Cyclones ~ The Kids of Summer Outlast Yanks on Opening Day

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Opening Day Turns Into a Pitcher's Duel.  Brandon Nimmo Scores First Run of Cyclones Season.  The Coney Island Nine Gain Their First Victory of Summer.

Game One in the Battle of the Boroughs, and of the 2012 regular season, goes to the Borough of Kings.


Right away, Brooklyn fans were in for a treat.  Opening Day in Coney Island turned into a classic pitcher's duel.  Through the first seven innings, the Baby Bombers and the Surf Avenue Sluggers remained scoreless.


For the Cyclones, starting pitcher, Ynoa Gabriel, pitched six innings of superb ball.  He allowed three hits, no runs, walked none, and struck out four.  For the Baby Bombers, Taylor Morton, equalled Gabriel's effort with six shut-out innings of his own.  He allowed four hits, walked one, and struck out a pair.


Both teams turned to their bullpens in the seventh.  For the Yankees, Conner Mullee was summoned.  And for the Cyclones, Coach Donnelly charged Dawrin Fias with Brooklyn's initial relief outing of the season.  Both pitchers kept the game scoreless for another frame.  Dawrin Frias pitched the eighth as well, and again kept the Yankees off the board.


In the home eighth, the Yankees handed the ball off to James Pazos.  With one out, Brandon Nimmo worked out a walk against Pazos.  He advanced to second base when Phillip Evans drew a second consecutive walk.  Alexander Sanchez then reached safely on an infield hit to load the bases.  When Stephan Sabol drew yet another base on balls, Brandon Nimmo crossed home plate with the first Cyclones' run of the game, and of the 2012 season.  A sac-fly by Cole Frenzel drove in Phillip Evans from third to give Brooklyn a 2-0 lead.


That's the way it stayed.  Tyler Vanderheiden was called in to close the game for Brooklyn.  And he did not disappoint.  He retired Staten Island in order, striking out the last two batters swinging, for his first save of the season.  For Ynoa Gabriel, his effort earned him his first win , and Dawrin Frias gets credit for a hold.  The three Cyclone pitchers combined to limit the Yankees to four hits all game.


The thrills and chills of Coney Island are officially back.  Let the Summer begin!


Let's Go Cyclones!




Mike.BTB