Brooklyn Cyclones Open Final Series With Victory Over Winston-Salem Dash

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

Better Late Than Never; Cyclones Extend Lead Over Renegades

With Brooklyn making their first-ever visit to Truist Stadium, North Carolina, starter Christian Scott was treated to a rude welcome by the Dash.  After falling behind in the first, Jose Mena singled home JT Schwartz in the top of the second.  But Winston-Salem went ahead again in the bottom half of the frame.  

Despite retiring six of his next seven batters faced, Scott exited after allowing five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in four innings.  

Afterwhich, the bullpen held the Dash scoreless over the final five frames.  Right-hander Trey McGloughlin followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball, Nolan Clenney went unscathed through the eighth, and Nathan Lavender hurled a scoreless ninth.

Their efforts were rewarded starting in the seventh when shortstop Shervyen Newton and Matt Rudick delivered home a pair, Stanley Consuegra doubled home a run in the eighth, and Newton smashed a two-run home run in the ninth - his eighth this season.

Brooklyn wins their third consecutive game.  Coupled with Hudson Valley's loss against Wilmington, the Cyclones now own a 1.5 game lead ahead of the Renegades with five games left to play.  BOXSCORE

Wilmington Blue Rocks Pound Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

II - WIL 11; BKN 7

Cyclone Bullpen Suffers Late-Inning Rock Slide

Everything started so marvelously.  Second baseman Jose Peroza singled home Brooklyn's first run, catcher Jose Mena hit a three-run home run to left field, William Lugo followed with a solo shot to center, and the Cyclones were off and running with a 5-0 first-inning lead.  

Wilmington scored once in the third, but Matt Rudick gave Brooklyn a 6-1 lead in the fourth.  

Starter Christian Scott was removed after the fourth, allowing one run on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts.  

Afterwhich, the bullpen suffered a significant implosion.  The Blue Rocks rallied for two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and six in the eighth, highlighted by Leandro Emiliani's grand slam.  The Cyclones' only response was William Lugo's RBI single in the seventh.  Right-hander Dylan Hall both suffered a blown save and took the loss.  

But there's good news!  Our Jersey Shore neighbors swept a double-header from our northern rivals at Dutchess County Stadium.  Thanks to the BlueClaws, Brooklyn gained a half-game lead in the standings ahead of the Renegades with only ten left to play.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Third Straight at Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore

I - BK 7; JS 0

II - BK 5; JS 4

III - BK 8; JS 5

Nolan Clenney Slows Jersey Shore's Roll 

Brooklyn won a much-needed third straight game against Jersey Shore.  They got no help from the Hickory Crawdads.  Thus Hudson Valley remains a one-half game ahead of the Cyclones, who now own second place to themselves, as the Aberdeen Ironbirds bowed to Wilmington.

The Cyclones opened with a four-run second inning.  First baseman JT Schwartz homered, and 

Shervyen Newton, Matt Rudick, and the Mets' Eduardo Escobar each drove in runs.  The 'Clones scored again on an error in the third, and Jose Peroza singled home a run in the top of the fourth to give Coney Island a 6-0 lead.  Jersey Shore countered with three in the home fourth and one in the fifth.  Afterwhich, the teams traded single runs in the sixth, staking Brooklyn to a 7-5 lead.  

Shortstop Shervyen Newton continues to be the big man on campus, hitting his third home run in as many games in the eighth; it was his seventh with Brooklyn and his eleventh overall.  

Making his third start, Christian Scott escaped with a no-decision after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings.  Right-hander Franklin Sanchez gained the victory despite allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings pitched.  

The real hero of the game was Nolan Clenney, who yielded three hits and no walks with four strikeouts over the final three innings for the save.  BOXSCORE

• Rehabbing from a strained oblique, New York Mets infielder Eduardo Escobar started at shortstop and finished 2 for 4 at the plate, with one run batted in and one run scored.

Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Hudson Valley in Walk-Off Fashion

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

IV - BKN 3; HVR 2

Baby Bums Take Down Evil Empire Plebs in Coney Island Thriller

With twenty games left in the season, playoff fever has gripped Coney Island.  A crowd of upwards of 3,600 were treated to a ninth-inning thriller.  However, through the first eight frames, a lot of nail-biting was going on.

Left fielder Matt Rudick scored on a fielder's choice in the first inning, and Jaylen Palmer homered in the second to give the Cyclones a 2-0 lead.  But it would not last.  Hudson Valley designated hitter Spencer Henson tied the game with a two-run double in the third.

The score then remained unchanged through the eighth.  Both starting pitchers exited to a no-decision.  Brooklyn's Christian Scott allowed two runs on one hit and three walks with five strikeouts in 2.2 innings.  Right-hander Trey McLoughlin followed with 4.1 scoreless innings of two-hit ball with five strikeouts, and Daison Acosta followed with a scoreless eighth and ninth inning.

Matt Rudick singled to left field with one out and runners on first and second in the home ninth, scoring Jaylen Palmer from second with the winning run.

Brooklyn once again leapfrogs into first place ahead of the Renegades.  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.