Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Aberdeen IronBirds in SAL Playoff Opener

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF

Aberdeen IronBirds vs. Brooklyn Cyclones

I - BKN 8; ABD 1

Luis Moreno Hurls a Gem; Surf Avenue Sluggers Club Three Home Runs

For the first time in their respective histories, former New York-Penn League rivals, the Aberdeen Ironbirds, and Brooklyn Cyclones, met in the playoffs as members clubs of the (High-A) South Atlantic League.

Facing right-hander Luis Moreno, Aberdeen right fielder Dylan Beavers led off the game with a triple to right field.  Moreno struck out the next two batters swinging, and the third batter was caught looking.  

Second baseman Jose Peroza singled home the game's first run with two outs in the bottom half of the frame.

Ironbird center fielder Jud Fabian tied the game in the visitor's second with a home run to left.  But designated hitter Joe Suozzi promptly answered with a solo shot to end the frame.  Right fielder Stanley Consuegra then singled home a run in the third for a 3-1 Brooklyn lead.

The rest of the score was underwritten by the Surf Avenue insurance company.  

Left fielder Matt Rudick led off the fifth inning with a home run to right, and with one out and Alex Ramirez on base, Jose Peroza homered over the left/center field wall.  For good measure, Joe Suozzi tripled home a pair of runs in the eighth for an 8-1 margin of victory.

• Center fielder Alex Ramirez finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and the Cyclones got two-out RBI from Consuegra, Suozzi, and Peroza.

Making his most crucial professional start to date, Luis Moreno hurled a gem, allowing the lone run on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings for the win.  He faced 23 batters and threw 90 pitches, with 59 (65.5%) going for strikes.  

Right-hander Nolan Clenney yielded no hits over two scoreless innings, and Daison Acosta retired the Ironbirds to close the ninth.

• After making nine appearances with St. Lucie, Luis Moreno posted a 2.92 ERA and 1.091 WHiP in 77.0 innings with Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Cyclones Blank Winston-Salem to Clinch Division Flag

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

II - BKN 5; WSD 2

III - BKN 6; WSD 0

IV - BKN 3; WSD 0

Brooklyn Cyclones Clinch First-Ever South Atlantic League Division Flag

With Brooklyn shutting out the Winston-Salem Dash for a second straight game and the Hudson Valley Renegades bowing to the Blue Rocks at Wilmington, the Cyclones clinched the South Atlantic League North Division second-half flag.

Starter Jeffrey Colon hurled a gem.  Making his third start (sixth appearance) for Brooklyn, the right-hander surrendered a mere three hits and one walk with eight strikeouts for his first win as a Cyclone.  Colon faced 22 batters while throwing an economical 68 pitches, with an effective 69.1% (47) going for strikes.  

Serving as Coney's primary closer down the stretch, Daison Acosta tossed two scoreless innings of no-hit ball with one walk and two strikeouts for his tenth save this season.

Winston-Salem starter Luis Moncada matched Colon pitch for pitch but exited with a no-decision after allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five scoreless innings.  

Dash reliever Haylen Green pitched into and out of trouble in the sixth.  But things went away for Green in the seventh.  With one out, DH Joe Suozzi homered to left field.  With runners on the corners, Alex Ramirez singled home Shervyen Newton, and Jose Peroza knocked home Matt Rudick, giving the Clones a 3-0 lead and their final margin of victory.

Friday night marks Brooklyn's fourth straight win against the Dash, highlighted by back-to-back shutouts.  The Clones are now winners of six in a row and 14 of their last 16 games and improved to a second-half best 40-24 (.625) record and a 70-60 mark overall.

Two games remain in the regular season.  Afterwhich, the Cyclones will take on the first-half champ Aberdeen Ironbirds in the first-round North Division playoff.

Amazin' Starts Here! #LGM Playoff baseball returns to Coney Island - Can You Dig It?!! https://t.co/VWkE7Qq9DM

— The Metsian Podcast with Sam, Rich and Mike (@THEMetsianPod) September 10, 2022

Brooklyn Cyclones Power Up Against Winston-Salem

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

II - BKN 5; WSD 2

Brooklyn's Magic Number is Three, With Four to Play

The Brooklyn Cyclones remain in control of their destiny.  They took a second straight contest from the Dash on Wednesday and are now winners of 12 of their last 14 games and lead all SAL teams with a second-half 38-24 (.613) record.  Meanwhile, the Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Blue Rocks at Wilmington to stay within 1.5 games of the Cyclones, with four games left to play.

Winston-Salem took an early lead, manufacturing two runs on three hits off starter Luis Moreno in the first.  But they would score no more.  Moreno limited the Dash to four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.  He exited on the winning side thanks to Coney Island's five-run outburst in the third.  

Left fielder Matt Rudick kicked things off with a clutch two-out run-scoring triple, then scored on an Alex Ramirez double to center.  First baseman JT Schwartz drove in Ramirez with a home run to right field, and Jose Peroza went back-to-back with his eighth home run this season.

Right-hander Franklin Sanchez struck out the side in the eighth, and Dylan Hall earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Shut Out Jersey Shore in Series Opener

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore

I - BK 7; JS 0

Cyclones Gain a Full Game on Hudson Valley

Coney Island secured a crucial victory Tuesday night at Jersey Shore.  Coupled with Hudson Valley's loss against the Hickory Crawdads, the Cyclones pulled to within one half-game of the first-place Renegades.  Meanwhile, Aberdeen had their way with Wilmington to remain tied with Brooklyn.

Making his third start for Brooklyn, southpaw Keyshawn Askew allowed three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings for his first win as a Cyclone.  In his third appearance with Brooklyn, right-hander Jeffrey Colon took care of the rest, tossing three scoreless innings of no-hit ball over the final three innings to preserve the shutout and earn the save.

Shortstop Shervyen Newton struck the decisive blow in the second inning, a two-run home run over the left/center field fence.  The score remained unchanged until JT Schwartz scored on a fielder's choice in the sixth.  For good measure, Alex Ramirez doubled home two runs, and Schwartz doubled home another as part of a four-run ninth inning for a 7-0 margin of victory.  BOXSCORE

Hudson Valley Pounds Brooklyn for Division Lead

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley vs. Brooklyn

I - HVR 7; BKN 4

II - BKN 7; HVR 5

III - HVR 11; BKN 4

Cyclones Get Beached on Coney Island

The North Division pendulum continues to swing.  Thursday, it went back in Hudson Valley's favor.

Brooklyn's Jose Peroza remains red hot and, in the opening frame, doubled home the game's first run.  He drove in two Cyclones' runs, with William Lugo and Alex Ramirez knocking in the others. 

Otherwise, game three was all Renegades, who scored early, often, and late en route to an 11-4 game three victory.

Brooklyn starter Tommy Hunter opened with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Right-hander Junior Santos followed but had his offerings punished, allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks in three innings pitched for the loss.  After Nathan Lavender hurled two scoreless innings, Justin Courtney was next to get punished for four runs on four hits, including two home runs. 

Afterwhich, Sammy Tavarez was needed to secure the last out in the ninth.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Pressure-Packed Thriller at Wilmington

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

III - BKN 7; WIL 6*

IV - WIL 7; BKN 1

V - WIL 4; BKN 2

VI - BKN 6; WIL 5

Cyclones Stage Ninth-Inning Comeback; Retake First Place

The Brooklyn Cyclones kicked up their playoff chase another notch.  Trailing 4-5 entering the top of the ninth at Frawley Stadium, right fielder Matt Rudick picked an excellent time to hit his second home run this season - a two-run home run to straightaway center field.  Right-hander Daison Acosta hurled a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to close the victory and earn his third win.  After two scoreless frames, Brooklyn opened the scoring.  With two outs in the top of the third, center fielder Alex Ramirez singled home two runs.  In the home half, however, Gregory Guerrero's second-base error jump-started a four-run rally, all unearned.  The Cyclones were quick to answer with two in the fourth on hits by Jaylen Palmer and Rudick.  But Wilmington again seized the lead with a run in the fifth.  Afterwhich, the score remained unchanged until Matt Rudick stepped to the plate in the ninth.  Relievers Oscar Rojas, Nolan Clenney, and Acosta held the Blue Rocks scoreless through the final five innings.  Brooklyn salvages a series split with Wilmington.  Moreover, they lead the SAL North division by one-half game over the Hudson Valley Renegades, who lost Sunday against the Aberdeen Ironbirds.  BOXSCORE

Wilmington Blue Rocks Seize Series Lead Against Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

III - BKN 7; WIL 6*

IV - WIL 7; BKN 1

V - WIL 4; BKN 2

Bullpen Suffers Sixth-Inning Implosion

Nursing a two-run lead, the game went awry for Brooklyn in the sixth.  Making his first start for the 'Clones, right-hander Christian Scott exited on the winning side after allowing just three hits and no walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 scoreless innings.  But after hurling a scoreless fifth, reliever Nathan Lavender yielded four hits and a walk and threw a run-scoring wild pitch in what proved a decisive four-run sixth inning for Wilmington.  Left-hander Cam Opp was called in to finish the sixth, but the damage was already done.  Brooklyn dropped their second straight to the Blue Rocks and trails the series, three games against two.  Right fielder Alex Ramirez and Jose Peroza drove in runs for Brooklyn.  Hudson Valley defeated the Aberdeen Ironbirds to regain a half-game division lead over the Cyclones.

Brooklyn Cyclones Go Down Quietly in Wilmington

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

III - BKN 7; WIL 6*

IV - WIL 7; BKN 1

Junior Santos Gets Knocked Around; Blue Rocks Even Series

The Cyclones were limited to just four hits in Friday's contest, two of which came in the third inning when William Lugo and Alex Ramirez generated Brooklyn's lone run of the game.  Left fielder Matt Rudick and Shervyen Newton accounted for the 'Clones only other hits.  The lineup drew for walks and fanned eleven times.  Starter Junior Santos was knocked around for five runs on ten hits, including a two-run home run in the sixth, and Justin Courtney fared no better, allowing two runs on a hit and three walks in 1.1 innings.  However, the Cyclones maintain their first-place standing as the Aberdeen Ironbirds blanked the Hudson Valley Renegades ten to zero.

Brooklyn Cyclones Achieve First Ever Win Against Winston-Salem Dash

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Winston-Salem vs. Brooklyn

I - WSD 4; BKN 2

II - WSD 8; BKN 0

III - BKN 5; WSD 1

Cyclones and Mother Nature Douse the Dash on Coney Island

Still looking for their first-ever win against the Winston-Salem Dash, Brooklyn opened the scoring in the third.  The young and highly touted Alex Ramirez singled home two runs.  They increased their lead in the fifth.  Catcher Nic Gaddis doubled home a run, and Jose Peroza doubled home two giving Brooklyn a 5-0 lead.

Meanwhile, starter Dominic Hamel allowed no runs on just one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

In the top half of the seventh, Dash first baseman Harvin Mendoza homered against Nolan Clenney, 

pitching in relief of Hamel, and a light rain began to fall.  Then, in the bottom half of the frame at 8:59 pm, after a nearby flash of lightning, the game was delayed and ultimately called after a brief wait.

The game was declared an official contest, resulting in Brooklyn's first-ever, although abbreviated victory against the Winston-Salem Dash ball club.  BOXSCORE

Winston-Salem Hurls Two-Hit Shutout Over Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Winston-Salem vs. Brooklyn

I - WSD 4; BKN 2

II - WSD 8; BKN 0

Thank Goodness for Jose Peroza

Winston-Salem won their second straight against the Cyclones.  

Four Dash pitchers joined in limiting Brooklyn to just two hits, both by third baseman Jose Peroza - a single in the second and a double in the ninth.  

All other Cyclone batters remained hitless.  They drew five walks but struck out thirteen times.  Center fielder Alex Ramirez donned the golden sombrero with four strikeouts.  

Making his ninth start for the (trade deadline) pitching-depleted Cyclones, Oscar Rojas allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.  Left-hander Cam Opp didn't fare as well, allowing six runs on six hits, including a pair of two-run home runs, in 1.2 innings for the loss.  Right-hander Justin Courtney also surrendered a two-run home run in the eighth.

As a result of Wednesday's loss, Brooklyn fell out of first place in the second-half standings.  Hudson Valley now leads the Cyclones by one-half game.

It was also the last Camp Kids Day of the season ... and hot.

What an all-around lousy day on Coney Island.

Brooklyn Cyclones Bow in First-Ever Match Against Winston-Salem Dash

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Winston-Salem vs. Brooklyn

I - WSD 4; BKN 2

The first ever game played between the Winston-Salem Dash, and Brooklyn Cyclones goes to the visitors from North Carolina.  The Dash opened with a run in the first inning in a hotly contested match.  Not until the fourth inning did the Cyclones tie the game.  But Winston-Salem reestablished a lead with two runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth.  Brooklyn did threaten in the ninth.  Brooklyn right fielder Stanley Consuegra singled home a run to bring the 'Clones within two.  But with two outs and runners on the corners, up to the plate stepped young Alex Ramirez, who struck out to end the game.  Right-hander Luis Moreno gave up three runs on nine hits, including two home runs, in 5.2 innings for the loss.

Good luck to pitchers Nick Zwack and Carson Seymour, who on Tuesday were both traded to the Giants.  Thank you for your time in Brooklyn!

Alex Ramirez Powers Brooklyn Cyclones Over Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

III - HVR 5; BKN 2

IV - BKN 5; HVR 1

V - BKN 7; HVR 5

VI - BKN 7; HVR 0

Brooklyn Hurlers Toss Four-Hit Shutout; Cyclones Take Series From Hudson Valley

The Cyclones continued their solid second-half effort with a shutout victory on Sunday to complete the series win over the Renegades at Dutchess County Stadium.  

After being dominated many times earlier this season by Hudson Valley pitching, the Cyclones gave the Renegades a taste of their own medicine.  Making his eighteenth start, Junior Santos limited the hosts to three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings for the win.  Three bullpen members joined together, allowing just one hit and two walks, and struck out eight batters over the final four innings to secure the shutout.

Right fielder Alex Ramirez opened the scoring in the fourth inning with his fourth home run since being promoted to the Cyclones.  Alex Ramirez hit his second home run with a runner on base in the sixth.  Leading off the seventh inning, Jose Mena and Joe Suozzi connected on back-to-back home runs.  Center fielder Jaylen Palmer closed out the scoring with a two-run double in the eighth, giving the Cyclones a 7-0 final margin of victory.

Alex Ramirez turned 19 years old this past January.  Since arriving in Brooklyn, he is batting .300 with five home runs and 19 RBI in twenty games and 80 at-bats.

Brooklyn is now back to par with a 48-48 record.

BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

III - HVR 5; BKN 2

IV - BKN 5; HVR 1

Cyclones Even Series With Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting

Making his fourth start since being promoted from the St. Lucie Mets, right-hander Dominic Hamel 

faced off against Josue Panacual for Hudson Valley.  The pitchers engaged in a scoreless duel through the fifth.  

But after Brooklyn posted a trio of runs, Hamel and the bullpen made them stand.  

Shortstop Shervyen Newton homered leading off the sixth, and Nic Gaddis followed with two runs batted in.  Dominic Hamel completed six innings, allowing a mere four hits and two walks with six strikeouts.  He faced 23 batters, throwing 79 pitches with 52 (65.8%) going for strikes, and improved his record to 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. 

The Cyclones scored twice in the ninth for good measure.  Right fielder Stanley Consuegra and 19-year-old Alex Ramirez each knocked home a run.

Right-hander Oscar Rojas yielded Hudson Valley's first and only tally in the seventh, a solo home run by left fielder Grant Richardson.  Afterwhich, southpaw Nathan Lavender, making his sixth appearance with Brooklyn, secured the final six outs, three via strikeout, for his second save.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Unravel Late at Hudson Valley

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

III - HVR 5; BKN 2

Cyclones Come Undone in the Eighth

In speaking with Ernest Dove during Thursday night's METSIAN PODCAST, we discussed 23-year-old right-hander Carson Seymour's progression through the farm system.  He made four relief appearances last season while playing in the (rookie) Florida Complex League, then began the 2022 season making four starts in seven appearances with the St. Lucie Mets.  Seymour never anticipated breaking the rotation upon his promotion to Brooklyn but was told the organization thought well of him as a starter when attending college.  

Making his ninth start for the Cyclones, Seymour held Hudson Valley to one earned run on four hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in six innings.  He walked off to a no-decision but not before lowering his ERA to a 3.68 mark through 51.1 innings pitched.

The Renegades took a one-run lead in the second, but another recent St. Lucie graduate, 19-year-old Alex Ramirez, tied the game with a home run in the fourth, then staked the Cyclones to a one-run lead with a run-scoring hit in the sixth.

However, the bullpen could not hold, yielding four runs (three unearned) in the eighth, from which the Cyclones could not recover.  

New York Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Yankees and Affiliated Rival in Local Showdowns

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

Up in Dutchess County Stadium, the Kings County Kids tied their series against the Renegades, while in Queens, their parent club staged a ninth-inning walk-off victory over the Bronx club at Citi Field.

The night's main feature was Brooklyn's pitching, who held Hudson Valley scoreless through the seventh.  But the Renegades spoiled the shutout with two runs in the eighth.  

Making his seventh start (ninth appearance) with the Cyclones, right-hander Luis Moreno allowed a mere two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings.  This season's St. Lucie graduate faced twenty batters and threw 79 pitches, with a very effective 59 (74.6%) going for strikes.  It marks Moreno's first victory at the high-A level, and he now boasts a reduced 2.90 ERA through 80.2 total innings pitched.  Right-hander Daison Acosta yielded two earned runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over the final three innings to earn his fourth save.

Facing Renegade starter Blas Castano, the Cyclones engaged in a scoreless duel through the fifth.  Once Castano departed from the box, the game promptly tilted in Brooklyn's favor.  Now facing the bullpen in the sixth, designated hitter Rowdey Jordan singled home a run, and first baseman JT Schwartz blasted a grand slam home run to right/center.  Center fielder Alex Ramirez singled home another run in the seventh, giving the Cyclones a 6-2 final margin of victory.  BOXSCORE

Meanwhile, back in Queens, Max Scherzer fanned Aaron Judge three times, allowed five hits and two walks with six overall strikeouts in seven innings, but walked off to a no-decision.  Pete Alonso homered in the second, and Francisco Lindor knocked in a run in the third.  After the Yankees tied the game in the eighth, Starling Marte delivered home the game-winning run in the ninth with a line single to left.  The Mets completed a two-game sweep of the Yankees.

Brooklyn Cyclones Win First-Ever Series Against Greensboro Grasshoppers

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Greensboro vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 6; GRB 5

II - BKN 9; GRB 0

III - GRB 6; BKN 5

IV - GRB 2; BKN 1

V - BKN 6; GRB 2

VI - BKN 5; GRB 1

Consuegra Powers Cyclones; Pitching Takes Care of the Rest

Strong pitching continues defining Brooklyn's second half.  Sunday's performance again proved decisive in their contest versus Greensboro, against whom they won the first-ever series between teams, four games against two.

Making his fifteenth start this season for Brooklyn, Junior Santos allowed one earned run on just three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings for the win.  Making a rare relief appearance, standout left-hander Nick Zwack yielded a lone hit and one walk with five strikeouts in three scoreless innings for his first save.

After three scoreless innings, left fielder and New York City native Jaylen Palmer delivered home Brooklyn's first two runs in the fourth.  When the Grasshoppers pushed a run across in the visitor's fourth, center fielder Stanley Consuegra answered with a homer in the home half of the frame.  In the seventh, right fielder Alex Ramirez singled home Consuegra, and with the bases loaded, catcher Matt O'Neill drew a walk forcing home Alex Ramirez from third.  Stanley Consuegra finished 3 for 5 with a double, home run, a run batted in, and two runs scored.  BOXSCORE