Staten Island Yanks tie Brooklyn Cyclones for first place

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Battle of the Boroughs - II

Back over the bridge...

Yanks lead series 2-0

I - SIY 3; BKN 2

II - SIY 1; BKN 0

III - TONIGHT

BROOKLYN CYCLONES: Staten Island Yanks to Host Friday Night's Battle for First Place.

Wednesday's series opener in Staten Island ended rather ponderously for the Cyclones.

With the game tied at two, and a runner on third in the bottom of the 10th inning, Cyclones reliever Carlos Valdez intended an intentional walk to Yanks first baseman Jake Hernandez.  Instead, Valdez and catcher Brandon Brosher combined to balk home the game winning run.

That's right - a balk off victory for the Staten Island Yankees, whom reduced Brooklyn's McNamara Division first place lead to just one game.

Then came Thursday's sold out game at MCU Park in Coney Island.  Led by starter Kolton Mahoney, rival Staten Island whitewashed the Cyclones, and thus gained a 2-0 lead in the series.  More importantly, the Yankees are now tied with Brooklyn for the McNamara Division lead.

Much to the dismay of the crowd, the Surf Avenue Sluggers fell silent once again.  They managed 6 hits and just one walk against three Yankees pitchers, en route to a 1-0 defeat.  This was the second time in the last three games the Cyclones have been shut out, and falls right in line with their statistically low offensive league rankings.

Thing is, starter Matt Blackham pitched a gem for Brooklyn, but nonetheless suffered his first loss of the season.  He allowed just one earned run on 5 hits, walked one, and fanned 10 batters over 6 innings pitched.

The series now shifts back to Staten Island for a Friday night battle for first place.



Mike