Brooklyn Cyclones Swept Away at Williamsport

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Crosscutters Sweep Cyclones 3-0

I - WPT 1; BKN 0

II - WPT 4; BKN 3

III - WPT 4; BKN 3

THE UNHAPPY RECAP: Cyclones Trip and Fall, Lose Frank Valentino Gem at BB&T Ballpark.

All starts out well for the Cyclones.  After three scoreless innings of play shortstop Wilmer Reyes leads-off the fourth with a bunt single up the third base line.  Designated hitter Yoel Romero follows with a single to right.  With one out and two runners in scoring position second baseman Luke Ritter singles them home.

Brooklyn picks up a much needed insurance run in the eighth.  Leading off Wilmer Reyes reaches safely on yet another bunt single.  Yoel Romero bunts him over to second, then Joe Genord gets hits with a pitch.  With two outs and runners on the corners Jose Peroza singles through the right side scoring Reyes from third for a 3-0 Cyclones lead.

Starter Frank Valentino yields no runs on just one hit and no walks with seven strikeouts through six innings pitched.  He faces 20 batters while throwing 76 pitches with 51 (67%) going for strikes.

Mitch Ragan enters the game in relief of Valentino in the seventh.

Crosscutters second baseman Nicolas Torres leads off the bottom half of the eighth with Williamsport's second hit of the game.  With one out third baseman Jake Holmes singles putting runners on the corners.  Center fielder Corbin Williams follows with yet another base hit to right scoring Torres.  With two outs and runners on the corners manager Alfonzo summons Dan Goggin from the bullpen.  Shortstop Bryson Stott greets Ragan's replacement with a sharp hit to left plating both runners and tying the game at three.  Designated hitter Kendall Simmons draws a walk loading the bases, and out comes manager Edgardo Alfonzo for another mound visit.  Goggin stays in the game and retires first baseman Rudy Rott on a grounder to second.

The Cyclones go down quietly in the top of the ninth.  With one out in the bottom half of the frame, Goggin yields consecutive hits to Nicolas Torres and catcher Mitchell Edwards.  Jake Holmes goes down swinging for out number two.  Goggin then walks Corbin Williams on five pitches loading the bases.  Manager Alfonzo makes no move.  Left fielder Johan Rojas ends the game with a base hit through the middle, as Torres crosses the plate with the winning run.

Frank Valentino's gem is wasted.

BLOWN OPPORTUNITIES: Two Weekends Ago the Ironbirds Were Perched Atop the Division.  Last Weekend the Cyclones Were Number One.  This Weekend Hudson Valley Takes Its Turn in First Place.

The McNamara Division standings remain tight as a tourniquet.  As they approach the 50-game mark all four teams are playing above the .500 mark.

• Hudson Valley   28-19
• Aberdeen           28-21  1 GB
• Brooklyn            26-22   2.5 GB
• Staten Island     26-22   2.5 GB

Vermont defeats the Ironbirds at Aberdeen.  But Hudson Valleys rallies late to overtake West Virginia.  The Cyclones meanwhile are now losers of three straight and fall into a tie with the surging Staten Island Yankees, whom by the way are winners of three straight.  Next up, the Cyclones host three games at Coney Island against the first place Renegades.