Brooklyn Cyclones: Battle Of The Boroughs Resumes

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS:

 

 

 

GAME ONE FINAL:

Yankees   1

Cyclones  5

 

 

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

FROM

CONEY ISLAND

 

 

 

 

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Batavia Muckdogs Keep Pressure On Coney Island.

 

Brooks Defeat Baby Bombers

Preserve Their One Game Wild Card Lead.

 

 

The Brooklyn Cyclones defeated the Staten Island Yankees 5-1 Friday evening.  All they could do however was hold their ground, because both the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Batavia Muckdogs won their games as well.

 

With only five games now left in the regular season, the Cyclones trail the McNamara Division leading Hudson Valley Renegades by five games.  No room for error there.  So in the more pressing Wild Card race, Brooklyn remains a mere game ahead of the Batavia Muckdogs

 

Brooklyn starter, Hansel Robles, took care of the first five innings against Staten Island.  Three calls to the bullpen later, all Cyclones pitchers combined to limit Staten Island to a single unearned run.  Otherwise, the Yankees had six hits, and received three walks.  Brooklyn hurlers combined to strikeout eight batters.

 

The Cyclones did all their damage between the third and sixth inning.  Kevin Plawecki was 2 for 4 with an RBI.  Dimas Ponce knocked in two runs.  Brandon Nimmo and Alexander Sanchez also chipped in with an RBI each.

 

The Batavia Muckdogs refuse to lose, and therefore continue to force Brooklyn's hand.  The pressure is on the Boardwalk Bums to keep winning.  They have two more games against Staten Island before wrapping up the season against Lowell.  They will have the benefit of playing in Coney Island.  So the hope is they will not be the last home games of the season.

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Overcome Five Errors For Third Straight Win

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

 

 

SHOWDOWN IN THE VALLEY
 

 

 

GAME ONE FINAL:

Cyclones     7

Renegades  4

 

GAME TWO:

Thursday @ Coney Island

 

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES;
So Far The Brooks Are 3-0 During Final Ten Game Stretch.
Flaky Defense Needs To Shape Up, Quick!

GAINING GROUND ON HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
 

SEVEN GAMES LEFT IN REGULAR SEASON;
 

McNAMARA DIVISION:

Hudson Valley....46-23   *

CYCLONES........42-27   4 games back

 

WILD CARD:

CYCLONES     *
Muckdogs........2 games back

Before the Staten Island Yankees provided Coney Island with an assist, Brooklyn's visit to Hudson Valley was shaping up to be an inconsequential trip.  As of Sunday, the Cyclones fell seven games behind the first place Renegades in the McNamara Division race.  Then, the Bombers swept two games from Hudson Valley, and Brooklyn did the same against the Iron Birds.  Suddenly, with eight games remaining and five games to make up, Brooklyn's head to head match up against the Renegades turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered.


So game on!


On the hill, Gabriel Ynoa opposed Hudson Valley starter, Taylor Guerrieri.  Both hurlers pitched five complete innings.  However, Gabriel Ynoa exited on the losing side of a 2-1 game.  In his five innings of work, he allowed two runs, but only one earned.  He issued one walk and surrendered four hits, while striking out four batters.  In Taylor Guerrieri's five innings, he allowed one hit, one run, and struck out four.


Hudson Valley wasted no time scoring in the first inning.  Gabriel Ynoa hurt his own cause issuing two walks.  The Renegades took a 1-0 lead on a fielder's choice.  Brooklyn tied the game in their next at-bat.  Alexander Sanchez led off the top of the second with a double.  He too, eventually scored on a fielder's choice.  In the third inning, two Brooklyn errors conspired to give Hudson Valley a 2-1 lead.


The respective bullpens took over and kept things quiet in the sixth.  For Brooklyn, Logan Taylor was called in to pitch, while Hudson Valley handed the ball off to Jordan Harrison.


In the seventh inning Jordan Harrison blinked, and the Cyclones bats struck.  Phillip Evans led off with a single.  Then Alex Sanchez, Jayce Boyd, and Malkis De La Cruz, all doubled to help give the 'Clones a 5-2 lead.  With that, Harrison was off to the showers.  Next in from the Renegades bullpen came Rob Finneran, who closed out the frame preventing further damage.  He wasn't as lucky in the eighth inning though.  Brooklyn had their way with him shortly.  After Finneran hit Gavin Cecchini with a pitch, the next batter, Jayce Boyce, answered back with his fifth home run of the season.


Coach Donnelly sent Logan Taylor out for a third inning of work.  However, the pitcher did not finish.  Two hits and an E-4 by Jeff Reynolds got Taylor bounced from the game.  Beck Wheeler was called in next, and promptly issued an RBI double, making it a 7-4 game.


The Cyclones went down quietly in the top of the ninth.  Coach Donnelly then summoned Tyler Vanderheiden to oppose Hudson Valley's attempts at last licks.  The Cyclones closer performed flawlessly, retiring the Renegades in order.  Tyler earned his eleventh save of the season, and Logan Taylor received credit for his second win in relief.


Hudson Valley's McNamara Division lead over the Cyclones is now down to four games with seven left to play.  There is still hope for a division flag Cyclones fans.  It's a slim chance, but stranger things have happened.


In the other race, unfortunately for Brooklyn the Muckdogs won again!  Batavia is 8-2 in their last ten games and winners of four in a row.  As a result, the Cyclones Wild Card lead over the Muckdogs remains at two games.  However, I'm consumed by a sense of Who is chasing Who?  Down the stretch, the Cyclones are now winners of three in a row, but are only 6-4 in their last ten.


On a side note, if you have a bunch of disposable income laying around, and you can find someone who will give you odds, bet everything that Coach Donnelly will have his team outside early in the morning going through extra fielding drills tomorrow.  Especially at this point of the season, it's better to be proactive, than taking no action at all.  Wednesday night's game must have infuriated the manager.  The Brooks committed five errors in the game.  An error in the eighth inning could have been ruinous.  They have now committed eight errors in the last four games.  And that simply will not do - Not with seven games left in the season, and not with the Muckdogs biting at Brooklyn's heals.


The 2012 Cyclones have been cut out of an old Earl Weaver mold.  Saying they play stationary baseball is an understatement.  They are dead last in the league in stolen bases, and rank second to last in team batting average.  Yet, the Bums lead the New York Penn League in walks, and rank second in home runs.  Completing the Weaver equation, the Cyclones possess the best starting rotation in all the circuit.   So the final seven games of the Wild Card race would be a horrible time for their defense to fail them.  More pressing, their attention to detail must not escape them.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Sweep Monsters in Three; Four Cyclones Head to All Star Game

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES - The Coney Island Nine Slay the Vermont Lake Monsters 10-5, and Sweep Three Game Series.

Four Cyclones Heading to the All Star Game.

THREE STATEN ISLAND YANKEES SELECTED.

With the weekend's action complete, Brooklyn heads into the New York Penn League All*Star break one game behind in the McNamara Division standings to the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.  Their lead in the Wild Card race now stands at six games over the State College Spikes.  When games resume again on Wednesday, there will be twenty-two games left in the regular season.


On Sunday, the Surf Avenue Sluggers completed a three game sweep in Coney Island over Vermont by pummeling the Lake Monsters 10-5, while Lowell helped the Brooks by defeating the Renegades 5-2 up in Peekskill, N.Y.


After four and a half innings, the game was tied at four apiece.  In the second inning, a double followed by an RBI single put Vermont on the board first against Brooklyn starter, Rainy Lara.  Vermont increased their lead in the fourth.  After a lead-off triple, another RBI single made it a 2-0 game.


In the bottom of the fourth, the Cyclones struck back.  Three consecutive singles by Dimas Ponce, Phillip Evans, and Kevin Plawecki, loaded the bases with no outs.  A double by Alexander Sanchez scored Ponce, and Evans.  And a sac-fly by Nelfi Zapata scored Plawecki from third.  Richie Rodriguez then drove in the fourth Cyclones run of the inning with a single delivering Sanchez.


In the top of the fifth, the Lake Monsters tied the score against Rainy Lara.  Three singles and a walk led to two runs.  But Lara, composed himself to strike out the last two batters of the inning and keep the score at four apiece.  The Cyclones allowed Lara to exit the game on the winning side with a go-ahead home run by Dimas Ponce; his first; in the bottom of the inning.


Rainy Lara pitched five full, allowing seven hits and four earned runs.  He walked one and struck out six before giving way to Logan Taylor in the sixth.  Taylor pitched two stellar innings, surrendering nothing, while striking out three.


In the bottom of the sixth, Brooklyn blew the game open with four more runs.  With one out, Eudy Pina singled, and Brandon Nimmo followed with a double.  Then Dimas Ponce stepped in, and continued his individual onslaught with another single driving home both runners.  Kevin Plawecki drove Ponce home with another RBI single.  And Alexander Sanchez continued his assault as well, with another single to drive in Plawecki.


In the bottom of the seventh, the Cyclones scored once more for good measure.  Eudy Pina scored on one of Vermont's three errors committed in the game.


After Logan Taylor, relievers David Wynn and John Mincone shared eighth inning duties flawlessly.  Then it was up to Tyler Vanderheiden to close out the game.  I do not know what it is about closers being ineffective in non-save situations, but VandyMan followed tradition.  He allowed three hits and one run before securing three outs.  But no harm done; Cyclones win by a 10-5 final score.


Starting pitcher Rainy Lara racked up his seventh win of the season against just one loss.  Today, Rainy Lara is now the New York Penn League leader in wins, and is only four strikeouts behind his team mate, Luis Mateo (67), for tops in the circuit in that category.


The Cyclones scored their ten runs on the strength of fourteen hits.  Dimas Ponce, Kevin Plawecki, and Alexander Sanchez all had three hits each.  And Brandon Nimmo is continuing right along in the lead-off spot, with two more hits in five at-bats.  Brooklyn batted 6 for 12 with runners in scoring position.  He is one of only seven NYPL pitchers with a WHIP below the 1.00 mark.  Not incidentally, four of those seven pitchers are Brooklyn Cyclones!  And to cap things off, the league's top three strikeout leaders are also all Cyclones.

2012 New York Penn League All Star Game

From Eastwood Field, Home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Ohio

New York Penn League All Star Game Rosters

The Brooklyn Cyclones are sending four representatives to the eighth annual NYPL All*Star game; all pitchers.  And that's only appropriate, as strong pitching has marked the Cyclones' season, and dominated the League so far.  Three starting pitchers; Luis Mateo, Gabriel Ynoa; and Hansel Robles will perhaps take a turn on the mound.  And if things go well, reliever John Mincone; Brooklyn's fourth selection; can see some action as well.  As highlighted above, the League's top winner, Rainy Lara, although deserving, will be unavailable.

This year's All Star Game will be played at Eastwood Field, home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Ohio.  The teams are broken up into American League and National League affiliation.

Brooklyn's chief rival, the Staten Island Yankees will be sending three players to join the American League squad.  Pitcher James Pazos; first baseman Matt Snyder; and outfielder Taylor Dugas will represent the Richmond County Baby Bombers in Tuesday's game.

STATS:

* SP - Luis Mateo

* SP - Gabriel Ynoa

* SP - Hansel Robles

* RP - John Mincone

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brandon Nimmo Thriving in Lead-Off Spot

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Coney Island Nine Take Opening Game Versus Auburn Doubledays.  Remain Two Games Behind Hudson Valley Renegades.  Johan Santana Scheduled to Make Rehab Appearance Sunday.

The Cyclones started this home stand by taking two of three games from the Connecticut Tigers.  They took the rubber game Friday evening led by the pitching of starter Luis Cessa, and relievers, Matthew Bowman, and John Mincone.  The three combined on nine innings, and allowed two hits all game.  Luis Cessa surrendered those two hits.  He pitched five full, walked none and struck out four before leaving the game on the winning side of a 3-0 lead.  Matthew Bowman then pitched three masterful innings in relief, allowing no hits, issuing no walks, while striking out three batters.  John Mincone tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.


The Cyclones scored all their three runs in the first inning.  Brandon Nimmo and Phillip Evans led off with back to back doubles to open the scoring.  Then with two outs, Stefan Sabol smashed his third home run of the season to give Brooklyn their 3-0 lead, and eventual final.


On Saturday, Brooklyn welcomed the Auburn Doubledays to the park at Coney Island and continued right along with their strong pitching.  Hansel Robles was the night's starter and gained his third victory of the season against just one loss.  For seven full innings, Hansel pitched three hit baseball, while allowing Auburn just one unearned run set up by a Dimas Ponce error in the sixth inning.  Otherwise, Brooklyn's starting pitcher was superb in issuing no walks and striking out eight batters.


Paul Sewald pitched the eighth inning and got touched for two hits, but nothing more.  Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the ninth inning to notch his eighth save of the season.


Brooklyn scored a run in the first, and the game stayed that way through the next four innings.  Brandon Nimmo led off Brooklyn's first at-bat with a double, and later came around to score on a passed ball, to give Coney Island a 1-0 lead.


Auburn tied the game in the sixth, but after a good stretch, Brooklyn came back with three runs in the seventh inning.  After Dimas Ponce led off the inning with a double, three straight walks gave the Cyclones a 2-1 lead.  With the bases still loaded and one out, Brandon Nimmo scored on a sac-fly off the bat of Kevin Plawecki.  Then Alexander Sanchez singled to drive in the third run of the inning.


And that's how this one ended, with a 4-1 final score.


Brandon Nimmo continues to excel in the lead-off spot.  In Saturday's game, he was 2 for 4, with two doubles, and two runs scored.  He now has five hits in eleven at-bats during the home stand.  And since being inserted into the lead-off spot ten games ago, Brandon Nimmo is seventeen of forty-one; good for a .415 batting average.  He has now elevated his season batting average to a .271 mark.  That's significant considering on July 25th, after game one of this last ten game stretch, he took a .229 batting average home with him.


The Cyclones (28-17) are 7-3 in their last ten games.  But so is Hudson Valley.  The first place Renegades (30-16) continue to set the pace while Brooklyn remains two games behind in the McNamara Division standings.


On Sunday, Johan Santana is scheduled to make a short rehab appearance in Coney Island for the Cyclones, as he works towards taking the mound again for the Mets by next Thursday or Friday.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brandon Nimmo Helps Knot Series Against Scrappers; Rubber Game Tonight

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Surf Avenue Sluggers Are Back!  Three Home Runs Power Brooks Past Mahoning Valley.

Series Tied 1-1

I - M.V. 3; BKN 2

II - BKN 10; M.V. 5

III - TONIGHT

Game Recap: Travelling Brooks Drop Game One in Ohio

Ask and ye shall receive.  A day after pointing out some of the Cyclones offensive woes, the Surf Avenue Sluggers struck back with a "Take That!" response for me, your author.  Late Sunday afternoon, the Brooks smashed out sixteen hits, and scored ten runs in game two of their series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of Ohio.

Brooklyn took a 3-0 lead right away.  Brandon Nimmo led off the game with a single.  Batter number two; Jeff Reynolds; drew a base on balls.  Then Phillip Evans stepped in against Mahoning's starting pitcher; Ryan Merritt; and crushed his fourth home run of the season.  Two batters later, as quickly as Ryan Merritt's day started, was as quickly as it ended.  Before he could finish out the first inning, Merritt was lifted for Mahoning Valley's first relief pitcher of the game; Josh Martin.

In the second, Julio Concepcion and Brandon Nimmo hit a pair of two-out, back-to-back home runs, giving the Cyclones a 5-0 lead.  The Scrappers got a run back in the bottom of the second, and scored a second run in the third inning.

Brooklyn's starting pitcher; Julian Hilario; only pitched three full innings.  He allowed five hits and two earned runs.  He issued one walk and struck out four before leaving the game.  Beck Wheeler took over pitching duties for Brooklyn in the fourth, and pitched very well over three scoreless innings.  He walked two, and struck out six batters.

After loading the bases full of Cyclones in the fifth, an RBI sac-fly by Jayce Boyd ended Josh Martin's night.  In to pitch came Scrapper reliever number two; James Stokes.  Alexander Sanchez said hello to him with an RBI single to drive home Phillip Evans with Brooklyn's seventh run of the game.  In the sixth inning, the Cyclones pounded out another four consecutive hits, and scored two more runs off Stokes for a 9-2 lead.  They would scored one last run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Jayce Boyd to make it a 10-2 game.

Out of the bullpen, Brooklyn's Timothy Peterson got roughed up for three runs in the home eighth.  Otherwise, Logan Taylor closed out the ninth inning for the Cyclones, securing a 10-5 win.  Julian Hilario was credited with a no-decision.  Beck Wheeler got the win for his three scoreless innings of work.


Coach Donnelly has been batting Brandon Nimmo in the lead-off spot during this current road trip through Batavia and Mahoning Valley.  While his .240 batting average this season indicates a struggle, his .368 OBP is something Coach Donnelly was looking to exploit at the top of the order.  But over the first four games of this trip, the results weren't so good.  He batted 3 for 17, with one double, and drew only one base on balls.  He then had a monster game on Sunday.  Against Mahoning Valley, Brandon Nimmo went 4 for 6, with a home run and a double.  That was Brandon Nimmo's third home run and eleventh double in 150 at-bats this season.


Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ The Travelling Brooks Drop Game One in Ohio

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Mahoning Valley Scraps Together a Win in Game One.

HITTING WOES HAMPERING BROOKLYN

By nature, the New York Penn League is a pitcher's league.  No one knows this better than the Cyclones.  Their hurlers are dong a fine job carrying the club this season.  And historically, they always have.  But there is no hiding the fact the Cyclones' offense is not as potent as say, past year's versions; ...not nearly.  Saturday's line-up was for intent and purpose, their regular starting line-up.  Among them, Alexander Sanchez tops the list with a .273 batting average.  At the opposite end, Juan Carlos Gamboa is sporting a .202 average.  The collective starting line-up so far is batting .237 this season.  And now they've slipped two games behind in the McNamara Division to the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.


After taking two of three in Batavia, the Cyclones arrived in Ohio Saturday to play the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.  Hansel Robles was Brooklyn's starting pitcher.  Luis DeJesus started for the Scrappers.


After five innings of work, Robles left on the winning side of a 2-1 game.  He surrendered five hits, among them a home run to Mahoning's Joe Sever, but not much else.  Hansel struck out seven and did not walk a batter.  In six innings pitched, Luis DeJesus left with his team trailing by one.  He allowed five hits and walked none, while striking out two.  Brooklyn scored in the first and third inning off him.  After Brandon Nimmo led-off the game with a single, Kevin Plawecki drove him home with a two out double.  In the third, Eudy Pina scored on an RBI single by Jayce Boyd.


John Mincone came in to relieve Hansel Robles for the sixth, and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits, and striking out one.  For the Scrappers, Scott Peoples came out of their bullpen to take over for DeJesus.  He kept the visitors scoreless in the seventh, and eighth innings, issuing one walk, striking out two, with no hits against.


David Wynn took over pitching duties for Brooklyn in the eighth.  And once he walked the lead-off batter, traditional thinking says trouble promptly follows.  But the Cyclones quickly erased Wynn's base on balls by turning over a 5-4-3 double play.  No matter though, trouble found its' way through to the Cyclones anyway.  The very next batter reached first base safely on an E-3 by Jayce Boyd.  Mahoning Valley's Joe Sever (remember him?) then stepped up again, and launched a two run home run; his second of the game; to give the Scrappers a 3-2 lead.


In the top of the ninth inning, Jayce Boyd and Kevin Plawecki both looked at strike three.  Stefan Sabol at least offered and struck out swinging against Mahoning's Cody Penny, who closed out his second save of the season.  Scott Peoples earned the win in relief.  Brooklyn's David Wynn suffered his first blown save and loss, pitching for the Cyclones.


Rain delayed the game for a little over an hour.  The Cyclones record now stands at 23-17, and as losers of six of their last ten, have now even slipped behind the State College Spikes by percentage points for the Wild Card.  Game Two of their series in Ohio is scheduled for late Sunday afternoon.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Heading To Ohio One Game Out of First Place

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

N.Y. Daily News - Brooklyn Cyclones Hand Out ~ 2001 Inaugural Season

Brooklyn Wins Series 2-1

I - BKN 3; BAT 1

II - BKN 7; BAT 1

III - BAT 2; BKN 0

Recaps:  Games One and Two

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Batavia Muckdogs Bite Back In Series Finale.

Ohio, Here We Come!

Plus ~ McNamara Division Friday Evening Wrap-Up

Brooklyn caught an early afternoon break.  The Tri Citi Valley Cats took the first game of a double-header against Hudson Valley, allowing the Cyclones to gain a half-game on the first place Renegades before ever stepping on the field.  And so the Brooks entered Friday night's game against Batavia one game behind the Renegades for the McNamara Division lead.  Hudson Valley still had an evening game to play however.


That said, make that three consecutive games this series in which the Batavia Muckdogs jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead over the Cyclones.  They scored off Brooklyn starter, Luis Cessa, with a lead-off single by Alex Mejia, and a one out RBI double by Garret Wittels.  On the mound starting for Batavia was Joe Cuda.  Over the first four innings, he retired the Cyclones in order.  After the first inning, Luis Cessa matched zeroes with him.


Brooklyn was still looking for their first hit as the teams entered the fifth inning.  Finally, they got it.  A lead-off double by Alexander Sanchez broke the seal.  Or, so it seemed.  Joe Cuba struck out the next three batters to turn back Brooklyn, and raised his total to seven strikeouts for the game.  Luis Cessa then pitched a scoreless bottom half of the fifth to keep the game a 1-0 affair.


In the sixth inning, Batavia made a pitching change and summoned Corey Baker to relieve Joe Cuda. Dimas Ponce then led off with a single.  But Corey Baker retired the next three Brooklyn batters.  Luis Cessa's night was also finished after five innings although he left on the losing side.  Coach Donnelly called on Matthew Bowman to pitch the sixth.  After a lead-off single and a stolen base by Patrick Wisdom, Bowman retired the next three Muckdogs.  Both relievers went on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning as well.  Three strikeout by Corey Baker brought Batavia's total to ten for the game.  And to this point, Brooklyn's Luis Cessa had issued the only walk of the game.


With eight hits in the game, the Batavia Muckdogs were coming up short with runners on base.  Through the first seven frames, they were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.  While Brooklyn, still behind by a run, was being limited to just two hits.  The game pressed on and into the eighth inning they went.


After Corey Baker secured the first out in Brooklyn's half of the eighth, Batavia brought Ryan Copeland into the game.  The Cyclones had a runner on second with one out after Juan Carlos Gamboa singled, and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Then with runners on first and second with two outs, up came Brandon Nimmo, who struck out swinging, and was thrown out at first base (K, 2-3) to complete the play.  Gamboa's hit was only Brooklyn's third of the game.


Tyler Vanderheiden took over pitching duties from Matthew Bowman in the home half of the eighth.  With one out, Patrick Wisdom singled.  A batter later, David Washington drove Wisdom home with a clutch, two out double, to give Batavia a 2-0 lead.


To close out the game for Batavia, the Muckdogs called upon Yunier Castillo to pitch the ninth inning.  After issuing a lead-off walk to Phillip Evans, Castillo set down the next three Cyclones in order, striking out Stefan Sabol swinging to end the game.


Although he pitched well, Luis Cessa was tabbed with the loss.  He now has a 2-2 record this season, but lowered his ERA to a 2.78 mark.  Batavia's Joe Cuda, who struck out seven while issuing no walks, gets credit for his fourth win of the season without a loss.  Yunier Castillo notched save number five.


Opportunity Lost:  With tonight's loss, the Cyclones gave back the half-game Hudson Valley afforded them earlier in the day.  That put Brooklyn 1.5 games behind the Renegades again even before Hudson Valley's second game went final.  But as luck would have it, the Tri Citi Valley Cats shut out the Renegades 7-0, to sweep their double-header.  Worth noting about the second game, Tri Citi's starting pitcher, Brian Holmes, took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Hudson Valley's center fielder, Joey Rickard, broke it up with a clean lead-off single to right field.  Brian Holmes, like Batavia's starting pitcher, Joey Cuda, won his fourth game of the season, against one loss.  He finished out the game pitching a one-hit, complete game shutout.  And with Hudson Valley's game two loss, and suffering a sweep at the hands of the Valley Cats, Brooklyn ends the night only one game behind the Renegades who lead the McNamara Division.


What you should know about New York Penn League rules however, is that each game of a double-header will be seven innings in length, not nine.  That's A-ball folks.


The Cyclones will now continue along with their great western road trip.  Get ready Ohio!  Here comes Brooklyn.  The Seaside Sluggers will play the Mahoning Valley Scrappers over the weekend before returning back home to Coney Island.  The Staten Island Yankees concluded a series against the Scrappers tonight.  They dropped the first game of a double-header 5-3, but had game two cancelled due to weather.  Let's hope the skies clear up in time for Brooklyn's arrival.


Let's Go Cyclones!






Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Taking A Bite Out of Batavia Muckdogs

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Coney Island Nine have taken the first two games of their great western road trip so far, with a pair of wins against the Batavia Muckdogs.


On Wednesday night, the Muckdogs scored once in the first and again in the fifth, while Batavia's starter, Ben Freeman, cruised through his first five frames.  Staked to a two run lead, he allowed Brooklyn three scattered hits and no runs.


Gabriel Ynoa started for the Brooks.  He allowed both Batavia's runs.  Overall he pitched six full innings, surrendering eight hits, striking out five, while walking none.  He left on the winning side of this game however, because the Cyclones rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth.


Ben Freeman's outing fell apart rather quickly.  He allowed a lead-off single to Jayce Boyd.  Kevin Plawecki lined out hard to right for out one.  After a Ben Freeman wild pitch put Boyd on second, Alexander Sanchez tied the game with his first home run of the season.  Stefan Sabol then followed with a second consecutive home run; his second; to knock Freeman out of the box on the losing side.


That was the extent of the game's scoring.  After Gabriel Ynoa put Batavia down with a pair of strikeouts in the home sixth inning, he took to the showers as reliever Paul Sewald took over on the mound.  Sewald pitched the final three innings against the Muckdogs.  In picking up his second save of the season, he turned in a stellar performance, allowing but one hit and striking out two.  Starter Gabriel Ynoa improved his record to 2-1 on the season.


Coach Donnelly juggled the line-up and gave Brandon Nimmo a shot at the lead-off spot.  Although he is currently only hitting .228 this season, the center fielder's .369 OBP warranted a try.  He went 1 for 4 in the game, with a double, and a walk.  Stefan Sabol was 2 for 3 in the game with a home run and a double.


*


On Thursday and for the second consecutive game, Batavia jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning.  And the score stayed that way through the first seven innings of the game.  Batavia's Tyler Melling pitched the first four innings against Brooklyn.  Then Lee Stoppelman made an early appearance out of the bullpen, and kept the Cyclones in check for another two innings.


Luis Mateo started the game for Brooklyn, and put forth a very good effort, but was ultimately credited with a no-decision.  In 6.2 innings of work, he allowed the Muckdogs six hits, and limited them to the one run Batavia scored in the first.  Otherwise, he walked no batters and struck out seven before handing the game over to the bullpen.


Batavia's one run lead turned into a four run deficit in the top of the eighth inning.  Brooklyn broke out for five runs against the Muckdogs' third and fourth pitchers of the night; Brandon Creath and Joseph Scanio.  Three consecutive singles by Phillips Evans, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki set up a bases loaded/no outs situation for Alexander Sanchez, who lofted a sac-fly to right, delivering Evans from third with the tying run.  Stefan Sabol then followed with his twelfth double of the season which scored Boyd to make it a 2-1 game.  That's when Batavia summoned Scanio to replace Creath on the mound.  No matter though.  Brooklyn's Jeff Reynolds introduced himself with a RBI single, and Eudy Pina's sac-fly scoring Sabol made the score 4-1 Cyclones.  Brandon Nimmo's RBI single then gave Brooklyn their fifth run of the inning.


Brooklyn reliever Logan Taylor was the beneficiary of those runs.  He previously closed out the seventh with one/third inning of work in relief of Luis Mateo.  He allowed one hit.  The bottom of the eighth was Matthew Koch's job though.  In fact, he pitched the ninth inning as well.  Overall, he allowed one hit and struck out one batter.  Logan Taylor was credited with the win however.


The Cyclones picked up two more insurance runs in the ninth.  A throwing error by pitcher Joseph Scanio allowed Jayce Boyd and Kevin Plawecki to score making it a 7-1 game, and eventual final.


Brandon Nimmo batted lead-off for the second consecutive game.  He was 1 for 5 with an RBI.  That makes him 2 for 9 batting from the top slot this series.  Stefan Sabol continued his hot hitting by going 2 for 5 in the game with two doubles and an RBI.  Jayce Boyd was 3 for 5, with two runs scored.


Prior to heading into Western New York, the Cyclones dropped a pair of games to the Aberdeen Iron Bird.  That allowed the Hudson Valley Renegades to take over the McNamara Division lead.  These last two Cyclones' wins have helped Brooklyn stay with 1 1/2 games of the Renegades.  Hudson Valley is in the middle of a seven game winning streak.  The Cyclones are now 23-15 on the season.  The Hudson Valley Renegades sport a slightly better 24-13 record.


Brooklyn will wrap up this series with the Batavia Muckdogs on Friday before continuing their westward journey towards Ohio, where they will take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.  Hudson Valley will be playing a double header versus the Tri Citi Valley Cats.  Another win against the Muckdogs will be key for the second place Cyclones in order to keep pace.





Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brooks Take Staten Island in Twelve; Keep Hold on First

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Battle of the Boroughs - II

Brooklyn and Staten Island Tie Series 2-2

BK 1; S.I. 0

S.I. 4; BK 2

S.I. 3; BK 1

BK 2; S.I. 1

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Surf Avenue Sluggers Keep a Hold On First Place; Gain Series Split Versus Yankees.


They went into the ninth inning tied at one apiece.  The visiting Staten Island Yankees' starter, Corey Black, tossed six innings, surrendering only a run to Brooklyn on six hits, and only one walk.  He struck out six before giving way to the bullpen.  Then Yankees' Josh Romanski tossed a scoreless seventh inning, and Dietrich Enns pitched the eighth without harm.

For the Cyclones, Hansel Robles was making his sixth start of the season, and looking for his third win.  But after pitching eight superb innings, he left to a no decision.  He allowed Staten Island six hits, one walk, and limited them to one run, while striking out a season high nine batters.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth.  After Dimas Ponce led off with a double and was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple, Phillip Evans followed with another double.  Alexander Sanchez then hit the third double of the inning off Corey Black to drive home Evans.  The Bombers finally tied the game in the seventh off Robles.  Jose Rosario doubled home Matt Snyder with the tying run.

John Mincone took over for Hansel Robles and pitched a scoreless ninth inning.  Mariel Checo; Staten Island's fourth pitcher; was called upon to pitch the home ninth against the Brooks.  He kept them scoreless, striking out two, to send the game into extra-innings for the second time this series.

Mincone retired the Yanks in order in the tenth.  But in the bottom half of the inning, Mariel Checo pitched himself into, then out of trouble.  Eudy Pina led off the home tenth with a single.  A sacrifice bunt and an E-3 moved him to third base.  Checo then intentionally walked the bases loaded.  Kevin Plawecki followed with a fly-out to center but with no advancement of the runners.  Alexander Sanchez then ended the threat with a grounder to second.

In his third inning of work, John Mincone faced the minimum in the eleventh.  Charles Basford relieved Mariel Checo for the Bombers, who set the Cyclones down quietly.  Then Brooklyn's Tyler Vanderheiden was brought into the game to pitch the twelfth inning of play.  He escaped a first and third situation with two outs, and struck out Exicardo Cayones swinging to stop the Yanks cold.

In the bottom of the twelfth with Charles Basford pitching, Brooklyn's Dimas Ponce singled with one out.  Kevin Plawecki hit a two out single that moved Ponce to third base.  Then Alexander Sanchez finally drove home the game winning run with an RBI single to center field.


After some superb relief work out of John Mincone, and a stellar eight inning starting performance from Hansel Robles, Tyler Vanderheiden earned his first win in relief this season, off one inning of work and walking two batters.  Hey, it's like that sometimes.  Staten Island's Charles Bradford gets credited with the loss.  Bradford is now 0-2 this season.


The Brooklyn Cyclones earned a split in the second installment of the Battle of the Boroughs.  Games One and Four were both won by the Cyclones in extra innings.  Thursday night's Game One was a fifteen inning affair.  Overall, the Cyclones lead the season series against Staten Island five games to three.


Brooklyn needed this win to keep pace with the Hudson Valley Renegades, who won their game 8-2 over the Aberdeen Iron Birds.  The two teams are now tied for the McNamara Division lead with identical 21-13 records.  Staten Island is next, trailing Brooklyn and Hudson Valley by seven games, and now sport a 14-20 season record.


The Cyclones' win also gets them one game (9-8) over the .500 mark at home.  The Cyclones will host Aberdeen for two games before hitting the road for a pair of series against Batavia and Mahoning Valley.  The Cyclones have played very well on the road and will look to improve their 12-5 mark away from Coney Island.  But first, they'll look to gain some separation from the Renegades by taking on the McNamara Division's last place club in the Iron Birds.




Mike.BTB