Brooklyn Cyclones: Wait Till Next Year

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn Cyclones: Despite Last Ditch Victory Over Staten Island, Coney Island Falls Half-Game Short of Wild Card.

Brooklyn entered Monday's action trailing the Wild Card leading Auburn Doubledays by a mere half game.  Auburn and Batavia were scheduled for an early game, with Brooklyn and Staten Island slated for late afternoon.

The Doubledays build an 8-5 lead, but heavy rain at Batavia causes a delay of game in the eighth.  By then the Cyclones trail Staten Island 2-3 in the middle of the seventh at Coney Island.  When the skies over Batavia clear, Auburn completes their post-season clinching victory over the Muckdogs.  With Brooklyn's game against Staten Island now rendered inconsequential, the Yankees tie the game in the eighth, sending their respective season finale into extra innings.  Staten Island pulls ahead in the top of the tenth, but Brooklyn rallies for two in the bottom half of the frame to capture one last regular season victory.

Second year manager Edgardo Alfonzo and the Cyclones break a string a three consecutive losing seasons, posting forty victories for the first time since 2014 and 13th time in their history.  They send six representative this year to the New York Penn League all-star game, with standout outfielder Ross Adolph capturing MVP honors.  The Cyclones lead the regular season in runs scored, total bases, team average, and team OPS.  Meanwhile, starters Jaison Vilera and Christian James lead the league in ERA, finishing one and two respectively.  Collectively, the Cyclones staff finishes second in team ERA, and third in WHiP.  All of which makes the conclusion of 2018 regular season bittersweet, as the Brooklyn Cyclones miss the post-season for a sixth consecutive year.

I will continue singling out getting sacked at Troy as the reason why.  The Cyclones were fresh off taking three of four from the Hudson Valley Renegades, but then got swept at Troy by the Valley Cats.  And therein lies their biggest misstep, because at the same time Hudson Valley was sweeping the Connecticut Tigers.  Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, the Cyclones go just 4-9 entering Sunday's penultimate game against Staten Island.  Hudson Valley, meanwhile goes 10-3 over the same stretch, leaving Brooklyn's hopes of a Wild Card berth out of their hands, and securely in Auburn's.

It was a fun season nonetheless.

Unfortunately, it's time to dust off the Borough's old refrain: Wait till next year!

#LetsGoCyclones

Brooklyn Cyclones: Christian James Stares Down Connecticut Tigers

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Calling on All Kings County's Horses

TONIGHT

Connecticut Tigers

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island Grounds

Brooklyn Cyclones: Christian James Pitches Gem; Keeps Brooks Within Striking Distance of Hudson Valley; Tied With Staten Island for Wild Card.

Brooklyn, at a most crucial time, slams the brakes on their ill-timed skid with a convincing, and very necessary 12-1 drubbing of the Connecticut Tigers Friday night at Coney Island.  The Cyclones, on the heels of getting swept at Troy, extend their losing streak to four after falling 7-2 in Thursday's series opener against the Tigers.

On Friday, all-star Ross Adolph led the offensive barrage going 3 for 4 with a walk, two triples, three RBI, and three runs scored.  Chase Chambers drove in two runs, while Jose Miguel Medina homered and likewise drove in a pair.

Starter Christian James improves to 4-1 with eight innings of scoreless, two-hit, baseball, issuing no walks, and fanning four.  His 1.76 ERA ranks second in the NYPL behind team mate Jaison Vilera.  James faced 26 Connecticut batters, and threw 96 pitches with 64 (65%) going for strikes.

The rubber game is slated for Saturday night at Coney Island.

Brooklyn is down to their final ten games of the regular season.  They enter this evening's action three games back of the Hudson Valley Renegades.  Meanwhile, the Wild Card is up for grabs.  The Cyclones and Pizza Rats are presently tied for the lead, with five other teams hot on their tails.

On Monday, the Cyclones open a series at Vermont, whom are a mere 3.5 games back of the Wild Card.  Brooklyn will then host first place Hudson Valley in the penultimate series of the season which could very well decide this year's McNamara Division title.  The Renegades are the defending division, and NYPL champions.  After which, the Cyclones end the regular season with a home and home against Staten Island.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Downward Spiral Continues Against Yankees

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Staten Island leads season series 4-3

GAME ONE

Brooklyn    2

Staten Is.   3

FINAL

Don't look now, but that piano falling out of the sky has a Brooklyn Cyclones logo on it.  After jumping out of the gate with an 8-2 record, the Brooks have gone just 3-9 since.  On Saturday, they lose their fifth in a row, and their seventh in their last eight games.  It is also their fourth loss in seven games so far against Staten Island.

As a result, the Cyclones drop down to third place, three games behind the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.

The Cyclones enter today's action looking to even up with the Yankees and climb a game back over a .500 again.  Lose, and Edgardo Alfonzo's crew falls below par for the first time this season.  After losing the opener at Staten Island on Saturday, the series shifts back to Coney Island for today's Sunday afternoon game.  After which, teams head back to Staten Island for Monday's series finale.

On Saturday, Brooklyn second baseman Carlos Cortes collects three of Brooklyn's four hits.  Catcher Kevin Hall strikes Brooklyn's only other hit against Staten Island pitching.  Otherwise, the rest of the Cyclones line-up goes 0 for 21 with five strikeouts.

The Yankees rough up Cyclones starter Christian James for a pair of runs on nine hits and a walk in just 4.0 innings pitched.  But he escapes with a no-decision.

Staten Island holds a 2-0 lead after five.  In the the top of the sixth, an E-6 by Yankees shortstop Eduardo Torrealba clears the way for two unearned Cyclones runs.  The game remains tied entering the eighth.  But with one out in the bottom half of the frame, Yankees right fielder Junior Soto homers to left off Cyclones reliever Billy Oxford, whom sustains his first loss of the season.

SUNDAY

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island