Brooklyn Cyclones Drop Thursday Twin Bill to Aberdeen Ironbirds

From the desk: SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

THE CONEY ISLAND STRIKEOUT 

INSTRUCTIONAL ACADEMY

This is getting pretty ridiculous ...

Through 20 games, Cyclone batters have struck out 232 times for an average of 11.6 K's per game.  The opposition has struck out 192 times for a 9.6 per game average.

Brooklyn batters have thus far achieved double-digit strikeouts 15 times, which is to say only five times have they fanned nine times or less.  Their fewest in any game is six.  In only their fourth game of the season, the Cyclones struck out 17 times against Asheville.  In one game against Greenville, they fanned 15 times, then followed up the next day with 14 strikeouts; that's 29 strikeouts in two games.  Against the Hudson Valley Renegades, they struck out a season-high 18 times, and in two other games, whiffed 15 each time.  The opposition has achieved double-digit strikeouts ten times and struck out upwards of 15 times in a game just once.

Is this what they're teaching these kids?  The answer is likely and analytically, yes.  These games are effectively no different than present-day major league baseball.

Launch this!

DOUBLE-HEADER

Aberdeen Ironbirds

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Old Steeplechase Grounds

 

Denton True Young disguised as Aberdeen right-hander Grayson Rodriguez limits Coney Island to one run on just two hits and one walk with nine strikeouts through five innings pitched.  Reliever Kade Strowd yields one run on four hits with two strikeouts.  Brett Baty and designated hitter Francisco Alvarez drive home Brooklyn's only two runs.  In a losing effort, starter Jaison Vilera surrenders five runs, four earned, on six hits, including a home run by DH Johnny Riser, with three walks and five strikeouts.  Brett Baty drives home his 17th run in 19 games.

• BOXSCORE: Game One
• FINAL:  ABD 6; BKN 2

Designated hitter Blake Tiberi breaks up the no-hitter in the third, and Zach Ashford (up from St. Lucie) doubles home Brett Baty to ruin the shutout in the fourth inning.  Four hits and nine strikeouts, that's the extent of your highlights; get home safely.

• BOXSCORE: Game Two
• FINAL: ABD 10; BKN 1