Brooklyn Cyclones: A Big Mistake By The Lake

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

The Defense Rests ...

Brooklyn Cyclones: Brooks Defense Hand Feed Monsters a Victory.

Playing off the shores of scenic Lake Champlain, the Cyclones couldn't have scripted a better start to Sunday's series opener.  Leading off the game, Ross Adolph introduces himself to Monster starting pitcher Jose Mora with a home run to left.  Four hits, three walks, and a sacrifice fly later, the Cyclones stake their ace Jaison Vilera to a commanding 6-0 lead before Vermont ever steps to the plate.

Very shortly thereafter, however, everything that could go wrong for Brooklyn, did.

A throwing error in the second by Brooklyn left fielder Wagner Lagrange leads to Vermont's first unearned run.  Two innings later, an error by center fielder Anthony Dirocie results in another pair of unearned runs.

Brooklyn is reinforced by second baseman Carlos Cortes' two-run home run midway through the sixth, giving the Cyclones an 8-3 lead. 

But that did little to tidy their sloppy play in the field.  Shortstop Manny Rodriguez' two-base error opening the bottom half of the sixth would eventually lead to Monster first baseman Aaron Arruda' two-out, three-run home run off Jaison Vilera.  But their poor play doesn't stop there.  Carlos Cortes' seventh inning error would pave the way for yet another unearned Vermont run.  Then in the bottom of the ninth, with runners on the corners and just one out, Cyclones reliever Ezequiel Zabaleta balks home the game tying run.

Into extra innings they go, as the teams trade runs in the tenth.

Coney Island's final undoing would come in the home twelfth when Brooklyn left fielder Wagner Lagrange and center fielder Anthony Dirocie suffer a miscommunication on a playable flare to shallow left/center.  Both allow the ball to drop in between them, and thus allow the winning run to score from second base.

Jaison Vilera makes his twelfth start of the regular season, but walks off with a no decision.  His record remains at 5-1 with a league leading 1.72 ERA.  He allows six runs (just two earned) on seven hits and a walk, with six strikeouts. 

IS JAISON VILERA RUNNING OUT OF GAS?

However, his seven hits allowed are a season high.  In his first eight starts, Jaison surrendered just 23 hits through 46 innings pitched, for a stellar 4.5 H/9 average.  In his last four starts since, Jaison has surrendered 24 hits in just 22 innings for an inflated 9.8 H/9 average.  In turn, his falling rate of strikeouts is perhaps confirmation of potential tiring on behalf of the Cyclones ace pitcher.  Vilera posted a 10.9 K/9 average through his first eight starts, but owns a reduced 6.5 K/9 average through four starts since.

SUNDAY CRUMMY SUNDAY

Sunday's loss to the Lake Monsters now places Brooklyn four full games behind the McNamara Division leading Hudson Valley Renegades.  The Cyclones have eight games remaining in the season which includes their upcoming three game series against the Renegades later this week at Coney Island.

In the Wild Card, Coney Island holds a half-game lead over the Auburn Doubledays, and a full game lead over Staten Island, whom lost to Hudson Valley in Sunday action.  Meanwhile, the Vermont Lake Monsters, now winners of five in a row, close to within 2.5 games of the Cyclones.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Coney is Where the Wild Things Are

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Next Stop ... Vermont, Where The Lake Monsters Are

Brooklyn Cyclones: Slug Way To Rubber Game Victory over Connecticut Tigers; Take Over Sole Possession of Wild Card.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers in front of a full house Saturday night at MCU Park clinch their rubber game against Connecticut with a second straight drubbing of the Tigers.

Edgardo Alfonzo's crew strike early and often, opening with three runs in the first, and four more runs in the third.  Connecticut scraps together a pair of runs against Cyclones starter Kyle Wilson in the fourth and one more in the fifth.  But the Brooks strike back in the home half of each frame, extending their lead to an eventual 10-3 margin of victory.

Chase Chambers and Jose Miguel Medina for a second consecutive game drive in two runs apiece. Anthony Dirocie and Manny Rodriguez each add two RBI, as well.  Six Cyclones hitters post multiple hit games as part of Brooklyn's fifteen hit attack.  For a second straight game they also post double-digit runs against the Tigers.

Kyle Wilson exits the game after five innings.  He surrenders three earned runs on six hits and a walk, and strikes out five en route to his fifth ever win as a pro.

CURIOUS CALL TO THE BULLPEN

Relievers Billy Oxford and Yeudy Colon each are curiously tasked with two innings of work.  Maintaining routine, for sake of work, or out of pure desperation, only Coach Alfonzo knows why other members of the pen failed to get the ball in that situation.  Now down to their last nine games and final three series of the regular season, the Cyclones need all hands on deck.  That being said, is there no other reliever in need of work, fine tuning, or perhaps even a positive outing aimed at boosting confidence?  With a seven run lead, planning ahead is a worthwhile gamble not just in this instance, but also as it pertains to setting up the bullpen for the upcoming series at Vermont, and the looming Hudson Valley clash to follow.

WHERE THE WILD TEAMS ARE

Up in Dutchess County the Tri City Valley Cats and host Hudson Valley Renegades battled into extra innings.  The Valley Cats two runs in the top of the tenth was negated when the Renegades rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the frame for a 7-6 victory.  Thus the Cyclones end the night 2.5 games behind the McNamara Division leading Renegades, but presently own sole possession of the Wild Card.  Their victory over the Tigers coupled with Staten Island's loss against Aberdeen gives the Cyclones a one game lead over the Pizza Rats, but only a half-game lead over the Auburn Doubledays, whom on Saturday whitewash State College.  The Cyclones next opponent is Vermont, whom on Saturday defeat Lowell to stay just 3.5 games back of Brooklyn.  In turn, the fading Spinners fall yet another notch further down the Wild Card standings.