Brooklyn Cyclones: Lefty Thomas Szapucki impresses in first start at Coney

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

GAME CALLED

BROOKLYN CYCLONES: Tuesday Twin-Bill Could Spell Double Trouble ... for Either Team.

Mother Nature said 

no Monday Night Baseball for you.

Sunday Final

Game One
Staten Is.   0
Brooklyn   3

Coach Gamboa made use of five Cyclones pitchers who combined on a four hit, 13 strikeout, whitewashing of the first place Staten Island Yankees in Sunday's series opener at Coney Island.

Brooklyn starter, southpaw Thomas Szapucki, celebrated his promotion from the Kingsport Mets with a victory in his first start with the Cyclones.  He limited the Yankees to four hits, three walks, and fanned eight batters over 5.1 innings pitched.

Relievers Kyle Regnault, Adam Atkins, Taylor Henry, and Joseph Zanghi, were perfect over the final 3.2 innings, allowing no hits, no walks, and fanning five in securing Brooklyn's 3-0 victory.

Prior to joining the Cyclones, Thomas Szapucki, 20, made five starts for the (R) Kingsport Mets where he posted a 2-1 record with an 0.62 ERA and 0.86 WHIP, while allowing just 16 hits, nine walks, with 47 strikeouts through 29 innings pitched.  Batters struggled to hit .157 against him.

Weighing in at 6'2" 205 lbs., the Mets selected Szapucki in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.

• The Cyclones got RBI from Gene Cone, Michael Paez, and Desmond Lindsay who played in just his second game with the Cyclones after four appearances with the GCL Mets.  This is Lindsay's (the Mets 2015 2nd round draft pick) second touch in Brooklyn.

• First baseman Peter Alonso (the Mets 2016 2nd round pick) seems to find Coney Island to his liking. He's slashing .315/.413/.574 through is first 15 games with the Cyclones, with five doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI in 54 at-bats.

Due to Monday night's rain-out, the Cyclones and Yankees will play a twin-bill on Tuesday.  With Sunday's victory, the Cyclones closed to within four games of the first place Yankees.

Both teams are now 4-6 in their last ten games.  Success on Tuesday can turn Brooklyn's season around on a dime.  They presently sport a sub .500 17-19 record this season.  Meanwhile, back to back losing seasons has been something unheard of in Coney Island.

Shudder to think...