Brooklyn Cyclones Skid Hits Five as Wilmington Blue Rocks Take Series Finale

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN vs. WILMINGTON; 1-5

I - BRK 16; WIL5

II - WIL 15; BRK 3

III - WIL 5; BRK 4

IV - WIL 7; BRK 4

V - WIL 1; BRK 0

VI - WIL 12; BRK 5

Brooklyn Twirlers Stoned by Blue Rocks

If you recall, right-hander David Griffin did not experience the most joyous of Brooklyn debuts.  In his first start for the Cyclones, Griffin allowed seven runs, but only four earned nine hits and three walks in just 3.2 innings pitched.  Making his second start on Sunday, Griffin yields three runs, but again only one is earned, on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in three innings pitched.

After twirling three scoreless innings, Wilmington starter Mitchell Parker surrenders a home run to Francisco Alvarez, and then with the bases loaded, Nick Gaddis singles home Jeremy Vasquez 

and Jose Peroza tying the game at three.

Wilmington greets incoming Cyclone pitcher Hunter Parsons in the home half of the fourth with five runs on three hits and two walks before ever making an out.  Pitching in relief of Parsons, a hurried Josh Hejka surrenders one more run before the frame is through.

Outside of single runs in the fifth and eighth innings, it is a deficit from which the Cyclones do not recover.  The Blue Rocks post one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh en route to a commanding 12-5 victory, their fifth straight win against Brooklyn.  Wilmington wins the series five games against one.  The season series now stands at 10-8 in favor of Coney Island. 

Through 61 games and 204 at-bats as a member of the Brooklyn Cyclones, catcher Francisco Alvarez (2 for 4, with two runs scored) now has fifteen home runs, giving him 46 runs batted in.  As a member of the Cyclones, he entered Sunday's action batting .240 with a .335 OBP, which I would agree are somewhat subpar while striking out in 30.8% of his at-bats.  However, he began Sunday slugging .520 and ended the day batting .245 with a .912 OPS and no strikeouts.

Jeremy Vasquez is the only other Cyclone with multiple hits, including a double.  

Hunter Parsons takes the loss in relief of David Griffin, who escapes with a no-decision.