Brooklyn Cyclones: Tied in Knots With Seven Games Left

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones lead series 2-0

I - BRK 12; VMT 3

II - BRK 2; VMT 0

Vermont Lake Monsters

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island

Make that two straight against the Lake Monsters.  However, Hudson Valley, Aberdeen, and Staten Island, also win on Monday.  Therefore everything remains as it was as of close of business Sunday.  The Cyclones, Renegades, and Ironbirds, will spend another day locked in a three way tie for both first place of the division and the wild card standings, and for the league's best record as well.  That said, the Staten Island Yankees sit a mere 1.5 games back of both the division lead and wild card race.  In fact the league's four best clubs (four top records) all reside in the ultra competitive McNamara Division.  But time is running short as only seven more games remain in the regular season.  It seems apropos the Cyclones and Yankees should play a home and home series to close out the regular season.

• New York Penn League

Game two starter Garrison Bryant, Jared Biddy, and Josh Hejka, join together in limiting Vermont to just five hits and no walks with a combined 14 strikeouts en route to a 2-0 whitewashing of the Lake Monsters Monday night at Coney Island.  Bryant yields just two hits and no walks with nine strikeouts through 6.1 innings.  He throws 73 pitches with 53 (73%) going for strikes en route to his fifth victory against one loss with a declining 2.18 ERA.

Meanwhile Brooklyn batters outlast Lake Monsters starter Michael Murray whom tosses a gem of his own, yielding no runs on just one hit and no walks with five strikeouts.  But once out of the game, Antoine Duplantis and Wilmer Reyes each drive in a run apiece against reliever Jack Cushing.  After which Cyclones relievers Jared Biddy and Josh Hejka take care of the rest.

Brooklyn hosts one more against Vermont before traveling down to Maryland for a three game showdown versus the Aberdeen Ironbirds.  And keep a close eye on Staten Island versus Hudson Valley, as the Yankees can leapfrog em all.