Brooklyn Cyclones: Despite Last Ditch Victory Over Staten Island, Coney Island Falls Half-Game Short of Wild Card.
Brooklyn entered Monday's action trailing the Wild Card leading Auburn Doubledays by a mere half game. Auburn and Batavia were scheduled for an early game, with Brooklyn and Staten Island slated for late afternoon.
The Doubledays build an 8-5 lead, but heavy rain at Batavia causes a delay of game in the eighth. By then the Cyclones trail Staten Island 2-3 in the middle of the seventh at Coney Island. When the skies over Batavia clear, Auburn completes their post-season clinching victory over the Muckdogs. With Brooklyn's game against Staten Island now rendered inconsequential, the Yankees tie the game in the eighth, sending their respective season finale into extra innings. Staten Island pulls ahead in the top of the tenth, but Brooklyn rallies for two in the bottom half of the frame to capture one last regular season victory.
Second year manager Edgardo Alfonzo and the Cyclones break a string a three consecutive losing seasons, posting forty victories for the first time since 2014 and 13th time in their history. They send six representative this year to the New York Penn League all-star game, with standout outfielder Ross Adolph capturing MVP honors. The Cyclones lead the regular season in runs scored, total bases, team average, and team OPS. Meanwhile, starters Jaison Vilera and Christian James lead the league in ERA, finishing one and two respectively. Collectively, the Cyclones staff finishes second in team ERA, and third in WHiP. All of which makes the conclusion of 2018 regular season bittersweet, as the Brooklyn Cyclones miss the post-season for a sixth consecutive year.
I will continue singling out getting sacked at Troy as the reason why. The Cyclones were fresh off taking three of four from the Hudson Valley Renegades, but then got swept at Troy by the Valley Cats. And therein lies their biggest misstep, because at the same time Hudson Valley was sweeping the Connecticut Tigers. Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, the Cyclones go just 4-9 entering Sunday's penultimate game against Staten Island. Hudson Valley, meanwhile goes 10-3 over the same stretch, leaving Brooklyn's hopes of a Wild Card berth out of their hands, and securely in Auburn's.
It was a fun season nonetheless.
Unfortunately, it's time to dust off the Borough's old refrain: Wait till next year!
#LetsGoCyclones
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