Brooklyn Cyclones: Downward Spiral Continues Against Yankees

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Staten Island leads season series 4-3

GAME ONE

Brooklyn    2

Staten Is.   3

FINAL

Don't look now, but that piano falling out of the sky has a Brooklyn Cyclones logo on it.  After jumping out of the gate with an 8-2 record, the Brooks have gone just 3-9 since.  On Saturday, they lose their fifth in a row, and their seventh in their last eight games.  It is also their fourth loss in seven games so far against Staten Island.

As a result, the Cyclones drop down to third place, three games behind the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.

The Cyclones enter today's action looking to even up with the Yankees and climb a game back over a .500 again.  Lose, and Edgardo Alfonzo's crew falls below par for the first time this season.  After losing the opener at Staten Island on Saturday, the series shifts back to Coney Island for today's Sunday afternoon game.  After which, teams head back to Staten Island for Monday's series finale.

On Saturday, Brooklyn second baseman Carlos Cortes collects three of Brooklyn's four hits.  Catcher Kevin Hall strikes Brooklyn's only other hit against Staten Island pitching.  Otherwise, the rest of the Cyclones line-up goes 0 for 21 with five strikeouts.

The Yankees rough up Cyclones starter Christian James for a pair of runs on nine hits and a walk in just 4.0 innings pitched.  But he escapes with a no-decision.

Staten Island holds a 2-0 lead after five.  In the the top of the sixth, an E-6 by Yankees shortstop Eduardo Torrealba clears the way for two unearned Cyclones runs.  The game remains tied entering the eighth.  But with one out in the bottom half of the frame, Yankees right fielder Junior Soto homers to left off Cyclones reliever Billy Oxford, whom sustains his first loss of the season.

SUNDAY

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island