Brooklyn Cyclones Move Into First Place

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES: Coney Island Takes Over First Place; John Gant Pitches A Gem.

Look who's number one!  Now with seven games left in the 2013 regular season, the Brooklyn Cyclones finally moved ahead of the Aberdeen Iron Birds and into first place of the New York-Penn League's McNamara Division standings.  They began Wednesday evening one-half game behind Aberdeen.  Up in Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners defeated the Iron Birds tonight by a 7-3 final score.

At MCU Park off the shores of Coney Island, right-hand pitcher John Gant, 21, drafted by the Mets in the 21st round of the 2011 amateur draft, hurled a complete game, one-hit shutout over the Tri-City Valley Cats.  Gant faced the minimum twenty-seven batters, but surrendered the one hit and walked one, while striking out six.  He improved his record to 6-3, and lowered his ERA to a 2.33 mark.

Shortstop Gavin Cecchini drove in the lone run of the game, but was not credited with an RBI.  The Cyclones won by a 1-0 final, and themselves only mustered four hits.  Tri City committed three errors in the game.

Brooklyn now leads the Aberdeen Iron Birds by one-half game, and the Hudson Valley Renegades by 2.5 games, as the upstate Rascals won their contest against Connecticut in extra innings.

On Thursday, the Cyclones will put their 36-32 record up against the Staten Island Yankees in the first game of a home and home series.



Mike.BTB