Brooklyn Cyclones: Staten Island Yankees Continue Playing Guardian Angel

From the desks of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Cyclones split series with Tigers; 2-2

I - CON 1; BRK 0

II - BRK 4; CON 0

III - BRK 5; CON 0

IV - CON 6; BRK 5

SUNDAY

Vermont Lake Momsters

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island

Thank goodness for the Staten Island Yankees.  At least they got things right Saturday night ... insofar as the Cyclones are concerned and the race for the McNamara Division title, that is.

Leading Connecticut 5-2 entering the eighth inning at the Dodd, Brooklyn surrenders two runs in the eighth, and two more in the ninth en route to a deflating loss against the Tigers.  Net result is yet another huge blown opportunity to impact the standings.  That's because despite Hudson Valley's best efforts Tri City prevails in 13 innings for a 4-3 victory at Dutchess County.  Meanwhile the Yankees outlast Aberdeen in a tightly contested 1-0, three-hit whitewashing of the Ironbirds.

• Yankees starter Blakely Brown tosses a gem, allowing no runs on just two hits and one walk with five strikeouts through six innings pitched.  Relievers Nick Ernst, Marcus Evey, and Barrett Loseke, join together on three innings of one-hit ball with one walk and three strikeouts to complete Saturday's shutout over Aberdeen.

While nothing is lost, nothing is gained either.  After an uneventful Saturday night Hudson Valley remains in first place with a one game lead over the Ironbirds and Cyclones.  The Yankees however close within two games of first.  Meanwhile Aberdeen and Brooklyn remain locked in a tie for the wild card with Staten Island now threatening just one game behind.  In the meantime the clock is ticking and time is running short.  Nine games remain in the regular season.

• New York Penn League

NEXT:

• Vermont @ Brooklyn
• Staten Island @ Tri City
• Connecticut @ Hudson Valley
• Aberdeen @ Lowell

This upcoming series marks Brooklyn's third against the Lake Monsters.  The first two take place at Burlington where the Cyclones sweep three games in July, and the Lake Monsters sweep three just over one week ago.  The series now shifts to Coney Island for the first time.

Let's go Cyclones!

S.I. Yankees Win Vintage Duel Versus Mahoning Valley Scrappers

From the desk of:  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Yankees sweep Mahoning Valley Scrappers

I - SIY 3; MHV 2

II - SIY 5; MHV 4

III - SIY 1; MHV 0

Staten Island Announces Arrival in Division Race With One-Hit Whitewashing and Three Game Sweep of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers

In the first inning Yankees starter Blakely Brown retires the Scrappers in order.  In the bottom half of the frame Staten Island second baseman Ezequiel Duran leads-off with a triple to right, and promptly scores on Josh Smith's RBI sac-fly to center.

With one out in the fifth Mahoning Valley second baseman Joab Gonzalez accounts for the Scrappers lone hit of the game against Yankees pitching.

Combined One-Hit Shutout

Blakely Brown yields no runs and the one aforementioned hit and four walks with six strikeouts through six innings.  He even unleashes a wild pitch, picks off a runner, and for good measure hits a batter as part of a rather full service effort.  Brown earns his second victory of the season against two losses with a 3.14 ERA.  He faces 22 batters throwing 83 pitches with 51 (61%) going for strikes.

Bryan Blanton pitches two scoreless innings of no-hit ball with an impressive five strikeouts in relief of Brown.  Barrett Loseke then closes out the ninth yielding no hits while fanning two for his first save.  Catcher Chase Illig accounts for the only other Staten Island hit of the evening.  Hard luck losing pitcher Carlos Vargas allows one run on two hits and just one walk with five strikeouts through seven innings pitched.

The Yankees are winners of three straight, and with Sunday's victory forge a third place tie with Brooklyn a mere 2.5 games back of first place.