BKN Cyclones ~ The Brooks Fend Off Renegades For Sweep

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Seaside Sluggers Sweep Series Over Hudson Valley Rivals.  Open Up Three Game Lead in McNamara Division.


In the third and final game of this home-and-home series, Hansel Robles started against Hudson Valley.  Jeff Ames started for the Renegades.  For the Cyclones, they had an opportunity to open a three game lead over their second place rivals.  For Hudson Valley, a chance to salvage a game in this series, and close to within a game of the Cyclones again.

Brooklyn struck first.  Brandon Nimmo's third inning sac-fly scored Jonathan Clark for the first run of the game.  Phillip Evens followed with an RBI double.  And Cole Frenzel gave Brooklyn a 3-0 lead with an RBI single.  But in the bottom half of the third, Hudson Valley struck back.  With two outs, the Renegades mounted a three run rally to tie the game at three.

Hudson Valley went up by a run in the fifth and effectively ended Hansel Robles' night.  The Brooklyn starter pitched five full, allowed four earned runs on six hits.  He walked one and struck out one.  His ERA ballooned from 0.84 before this game, to a 2.87 mark after.

Matthew Bowman took over for Hansel Robles in the sixth, and Rob Finneran followed Jeff Ames for the Renegades.  After a scoreless sixth inning, trouble came Hudson Valley's way in the top of the seventh, when Cyclones' Dimas Ponce scored on an E-6 to tie the game at five apiece.  Then with two outs, Cole Frenzel singled home the go ahead run against Finneran.  But not so fast.  Stubbornly, once again the Renegades tied the game at five in their home half of the seventh.

Brooklyn mustered one last rally off the third Renegades pitcher, Jose Molina, in the eighth.  Nelfi Zapata walked, and Jonathan Clark singled.  After a sacrifice bunt moved them over, Juan Carlos Gamboa singled home Zapata.  Brandon Nimmo reached safely on an E-3, and Clark scored on the play, giving Brooklyn a 7-5 lead, and an eventual final.  Paul Seward pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Brooklyn, and earned his first save.  Matt Bowman was credited with the win.

With this victory, the Cyclones sweep the series, and establish a three game lead over the Hudson Valley Renegades in the McNamara Division standings.

Next up on the schedule, the Williamsport Crosscutters come to Coney Island for a 4th of July three game series.





Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Strengthen Hold on First Against Renegades

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Eleventh Inning Win Opens Up Two Game Lead Over Hudson Valley in McNamara Division.


In the clash for the top spot of the McNamara Division, visiting Brooklyn shut out the Renegades 3-0 in their place on Sunday to open a one game lead in the standings.  Starter Luis Mateo pitched six strong innings to pick up his third win against no loses.  He surrendered a mere three hits, walked none, and struck out six.  David Wynn followed out of the bullpen to pitch the next two frames.  He struck out three before giving way to Tyler Vanderheiden, who picked up his fourth save of the season.

Cole Frenzel launched his first home run of the season leading off the second inning.  And the Brooks picked up two more runs on an E-5 in the third inning, capping off the night's scoring.

In Monday night's game at the Ballpark at Coney Island, the Cyclones led 1-0 after three innings thanks to a Eudy Pina bomb to center field.  But they promptly surrendered two runs in Hudson Valley's next at-bat.  In the home fourth, RBI by Jayce Boyd and Brandon Nimmo put Brooklyn back on top by a 3-2 score.  Then in the fifth, the Brooks picked up an insurance run on Stefan Sabol's RBI single.

Cyclones' starter Luis Cessa, pitched 4.0 innings.  He gave up three hits and walked three, while allowing two earned runs.

The Hudson Valley Renegades rallied late against Cyclones' reliever Beck Wheeler.  With the 'Clones ahead 4-2, Hudson Valley plated three runs on a Ryan Dunn bases clearing double, giving the Renegades a 5-4 lead in the seventh.  They would add an insurance run in the eighth against Juan Urbina.

In the eighth inning, the Cyclones got one back.  Jayce Boyd led off with a triple to straight away center field, and soon scored to make it a 5-6 game heading into the ninth.

Reliever John Mincone retired the Renegades in order in the top half of the ninth.  Then for last licks, Kevin Plawecki stepped up to lead off for the Cyclones, and promptly hit a laser over the left field wall off Marcus Jensen to tie the game at six apiece.

Into extra-innings they went.  John Mincone pitched into his second frame.  And with the go ahead runner on third, Mincone struck out the last two batters of the inning.

Brandon Nimmo led of the Cyclones tenth and struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball down the middle of the plate.  Eudy Pina drew another full count but worked out a walk.  Juan Gamboa then worked out a second consecutive walk issued by Marcus Jansen, putting the winning run in scoring position.  After a short fly to center, Phillip Evans stepped up with two outs.  He launched one high and deep to left, but not far enough.  This game was headed for an eleventh inning.

John Mincone came out for another inning of work and effectively retired Hudson Valley for a third straight time.  For his part, he allowed three hits, walked one, gave up no runs, and struck out four.

In the home eleventh, Brooklyn faced Kris Carlson now in relief for Hudson Valley.  After Kevin Plawecki was hit by a pitched ball, Cole Frenzel flared a ball over the second baseman's head to set up a first and second situation with no outs.  Stefan Sabol worked out a walk to load the bases for Jayce Boyd.  Playing in his first game as a Cyclone, he was having a hot night at the plate; batting 3 for 5 to that point.  Boyd then lined a fly to shallow right.  Pinch running for Plawecki at third, Jonathan Clark tagged up and took off for home, successfully scoring the Cyclones' winning run.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers have now opened up a two game lead over the second place Renegades.  This was Brooklyn's eleventh win over four loses.  The teams will now get on the bus and head back into Hudson Valley for the final game of this home-and-home series.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Starting Pitching Continues to Shine

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Kings County is No Place For a Raccoon.  Brooks Two-Hit Their Upstate Rivals.


After taking two of three games from the Iron Birds in Aberdeen, the Seaside Sluggers returned to Coney Island and hosted the Hudson Valley Renegades.  In an early season battle for first place, three Cyclones' pitchers hand-cuffed their upstate rivals.


Making his second start of the season, Luis Mateo pitched his second consecutive abbreviated 2-hitter.  In six full innings, he walked only one, while striking out seven batters.  Mateo lowered his ERA to 0.77, and collected his second win in as many starts.


In relief, Paul Sewald was first out of the pen for Brooklyn.  He pitched two innings of hitless, scoreless ball, and struck out three batters while issuing no walks.  Sewald was credited with his first hold.  Tyler Vanderheiden came in to pitch the ninth inning.  He walked one, and struck out two, in  recording his second save.


Hudson Valley's starting pitcher, Taylor Gerrieri, gave the Brooks a 1-0 lead in the second, when he balked home Cole Frenzel from third base.  Eudy Pina drove in two more Cyclones' runs in the eighth inning, on a bases loaded single to give Brooklyn a 3-0 lead, and an eventual final.


In eight games, Cyclones' pitching has limited their opponents to a .186 batting average, and have pitched to a combined 2.66 ERA.  They lead the lead in shutouts with two, and also lead the circuit with a stellar 0.96 WHIP.


The Cyclones are now making their second pass through the starting rotation.  In eight games, Coach Donnelly has used six starters.  The rotation shapes up like this:


1) - Gabriel Ynoa
2) - Luis Mateo
3) - Luis Cessa
4) - Hansel Robles
5) - Julian Hilario
6) - Rainy Lara


As a rotation, they are averaging 5.2 innings per appearance, while only allowing 3.4 hits per game.  They have yeilded a total of seven walks.  In 44.2 innings pitched, they have amassed forty-five strikeouts.  No starter has surrendered more than two runs in a start, and combined, the rotation sports a 1.42 ERA, allowing seven runs total so far.


The Cyclones are now 6-2, and lead the McNamara Division by a full game over the Renegades.  The series shifts to Peekskill, N.Y., for Game Two, before they return to Coney Island for Game Three on Wednesday.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brooks Dump on Staten Island's Home Opener

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS - II

FINAL

Brooklyn Cyclones        4

Staten Island Yankees   1

Brooklyn Leads The Battle 2-0

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:   Baby Bombers' Opening Day Foiled By Cole Frenzel, and Coney Island's Pitching.


With more stingy pitching, the Boardwalk Bums took another cue from their big brothers in Flushing by limiting the Staten Island Yankees to two hits, in the second game of their home-and-home 2012 Season Openers.  Having secured their Opening Day victory Monday night in Coney Island with a 2-0 victory over the Yankees, the Cyclones took the trip over the Verrazano Bridge Tuesday and secured a second victory in Staten Island's Home Opener.


Luis Mateo started for Brooklyn, and pitched 5.2 innings of two hit ball.  He served up one solo home run to DH-Saxon Butler.  Otherwise, Luis walked just one batter, and whiffed nine of the twenty-one Baby Bombers he faced.  John Mincone took over with two outs, and finished the sixth inning for Mateo.  John was credited with a hold after pitching two more innings and posting zeroes, with one strikeout.  Jeremy Gould was then given a crack at his first save opportunity in the ninth and struck out the side.


As a returning player from 2011, Cole Frenzel exerted some offensive leadership.  In the second inning, Kevin Plawecki was hit by a pitch.  After Cole Frenzel followed with a single, Plawecki scored on an E-5 off the bat of Stefan Sabol.  Frenzel later came around to score on Jonathan Clark's sac-fly, for a 2-0 Brooklyn lead.


In the third, the Yankees cut the lead by one.  But the Cyclones regained their two run lead in their next at-bat.  Cole Frenzel scored again on a fielder's choice.  In the seventh, the Brooks scored their fourth and final run.  Brandon Nimmo scored on Cole Frenzel's RBI single.  Cole finished the night batting 3 for 5, with two runs scored.


Brandon Nimmo recorded his first hit as a Cyclone in the third inning, and finished the night 1 for 3, with two walks and a run scored.  The Cyclones had numerous opportunities to blow the game open.  They left eleven runners on base, and batted 1 for 13 with RISP.


They'll play game three of this four game series in Staten Island again Wednesday, before the series moves back to Coney Island on Thursday.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ The Coney Island Power Co.; Game Two

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Brooks Invade Staten Island and Pound Yankees 12-5;  Force Deciding Game Three.


Veni; Vidi; Vici...;  OH!  Fugheddaboubit!


It's going to be HAVOC in the HARBOR.  Both teams have now lost a game at home.


The Seaside Sluggers travelled across the Verrazano Bridge Friday afternoon with bats in hand, and proceeded to smash-up any plans the Yankees had of sweeping Brooklyn in two games.   This series is now tied.   And The Battle of the Boroughs will culminate Saturday in a most appropriate, do-or-die, NYC showdown.


At stake tomorrow is a chance to play for the NYPL Championship; local bragging rights; and Borough Pride.  The season ending; playoff elimination; loser-go-home in shame; contest will be played at the Ballpark at St. George in Staten Island.


In Game One on Thursday, the Cyclones could only manage two hits off Yankee pitching.  In Game Two, the Cyclones found Yankee pitching very hittable as Brooklyn's bats lit-up the Staten Island scoreboard with sixteen hits and twelve runs scored.


Brooklyn's Brian Harrison; Richard Lucas; Charlie Thurber; and Cole Frenzel were more power than Staten Island could handle.  Midway through, a two-run home run by Charlie Thurber kept the Yankees at bay, and a late two-run home run by Richard Lucas put them away...for good.  The two combined to go 6 for 10; seven runs scored; 2 home runs; and four RBI.


Brian Harrison jolted the Yankees all afternoon; going 4 for 5 on the day; with two doubles and three RBI.  Cole Frenzel; who did not start in game one against a lefty; drove in two more of Brooklyn's twelve runs.


After two innings played, the Yankees led this game 2-1.  But once the Cyclones pulled ahead, they stayed ahead; then turned on the power.  However, Staten Island pounded out thirteen hits of their own.  And both teams were guilty of sloppy play totalling five errors between them.


On the hill, Brooklyn's bullpen literally saved the day.  Cyclone starter; Jeffery Walters; got roughed up.  In 4.2 innings of work, he allowed eight hits and got charged with five runs/four earned.  But Rafael Montero; Tyler Pill; and Jeremy Gould; combined to keep Staten Island scoreless over the final 4.2 innings.  Montero earned the Win.  Pill is credited with a Hold.


And so, this is it...........

SATURDAY

The Battle of the Boroughs - V

"HAVOC in the HARBOR"

Game Three

NYPL FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES (1-1)

vs.

Staten Island Yankees (1-1)

From

Richmond's Ballpark at St. George

STATEN ISLAND, NYC

Loser Go Home!

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Final Push For A Wild Card

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS  IV

THE FINAL SERIES

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Friday ~ @ CONEY ISLAND

Saturday ~ @ Staten Island

Sunday ~ @ CONEY ISLAND

Thursday night, this season's New York-Penn League batting leader; Daniel Muno; went 3 for 3; with a double; 2 walks; and two runs scored; while Cole Frenzel went 3 for 5 and drove in four of the Cyclones' seven runs against the Lowell Spinners to complete a three game sweep, and set up Brooklyn's end of season showdown with this year's McNamara Division winners; the Staten Island Yankees.  And while the Baby Bombers have clinched their spot in the playoffs, the Cyclones are still fighting for theirs.


On the other side of the Verrazano Narrows yesterday, the Vermont Lake Monsters jumped all over the Yankees with six runs in the first inning, and finished them off by a 9-3 final score to soften them up before coming to Brooklyn later today.


Out in Ohio, the Williamsport Crosscutters dropped their game against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, and as a result, Brooklyn owns a full game lead in the Wild Card race heading into the final series of the regular season.  Williamsports will play the State College Spikes this weekend to wrap up their schedule, as Brooklyn plays Staten Island in a home-and-home.


See you there.  I'll be at Friday and Sunday's games.

WILD CARD STANDINGS:

BROOKLYN CYCLONES   42-29   .592   *

         Williamsport Crosscutters    42-31   .575    1.0 GB

Three Games Left

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ The Wild Ones

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Travis Taijeron Drives 'Em WILD in Game One With Three RBI.

GAME ONE:  Hudson Valley Renegades @ Brooklyn Cyclones:

BROOKLYN - 3
Hudson Valley - 1
7 innings

In the first game of a double-header tonight, the Cyclones won their fourth consecutive game; this time, over the Hudson Valley Renegades at the Surf Avenue Grounds.  Just when games are mattering most, the Seaside Sluggers seem to be reigniting the fire they showed during much of August.


In game one, Hudson Valley took an early 1-0 lead in the second.  Brooklyn tied the score in the fourth inning when Travis Taijeron doubled home Richard Lucas who reached on a walk.  With two outs in the sixth inning, Richard Lucas was hit by a pitch and Cole Frenzel walked.  That brought up Travis Taijeron again, who delivered a huge, clutch triple to drive home both runners, and give the Cyclones a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish.


Brooklyn's starting pitcher; Marcos Camanera; put in a fine effort against Hudson Valley.  He tossed 6.0 innings, giving up a lone home run in the second inning.  Otherwise, Marcos allowed five hits and struck out five as well for his third victory of the season against three losses.  Nicholas Carr pitched the seventh inning (double-header rules) for the first professional save of his career.



GAME TWO:  Hudson Valley Gains Split of Double-Header.

Hudson Valley - 7
BROOKLYN - 0
7 innings
   

There were no clutch Brooklyn hits this time.  More accurately, there were only three Brooklyn hits all game.  Hudson Valley's starting pitcher; Jacob Partridge; blanked the Cyclones over 6.1 innings pitched.  In addition to limiting the Cyclones to just two hits, the Hudson Valley lefty struck out nine Seaside Swingers tonight while walking only one.  Stayton Thomas relieved Partridge and allowed Brooklyn's third hit of the night; but nothing more.


The Cyclones only managed three hits in game one also; however, with different results.



Playoff Picture:

McNAMARA DIVISION:
Staten Island Yankees....43-24   *
Brooklyn Cyclones........ 39-29    4.5 GB


The Baby Bombers swept a double-header against the Aberdeen Iron Birds in Staten Island to increase their lead over Brooklyn by 4.5 games.  The Cyclones will have to take two of three games from the Spinners in their up-coming road trip to Lowell, in order to have a chance of over-taking Staten Island this coming weekend; as both teams will close out the regular season with a home-and-home series.



WILD CARD:
Brooklyn Cyclones..............39-29    *
Williamsport Crosscutters...40-30    *

In Williamsport, the Crosscutters defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers with a run in the bottom of the 14th inning.  The Cyclones maintain a percentage-points lead over the Crosscutters, but end the night tied for the Wild Card lead.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Saturday Night Fever

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Tonight, They Play For a Piece of the Wild Card Lead.

The Cyclones are making their move on the Staten Island Yankees via Ohio.  They are now just 4.5 games behind the McNamara Division leaders.  And with last night's victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Brooklyn Cyclones are now just one game away from tying the Scrappers for the Wild Card lead.  The Williamsport Crosscutters still have a say in the Wild Card race as they sit just one half game behind Mahoning Valley entering today's games.

McNAMARA DIVISION

1) - Staten Island Yankees...35-19   .648    -

2) - Brooklyn Cyclones.........31-24   .564   4.5 GB

WILD CARD

1) - Mahoning Valley Scrappers   32-23   -

2) - Williamsport Crosscutters       31-23   0.5  GB

3) - BROOKLYN CYCLONES          31-24   1.0  GB

In the last weekend before the NY-PL All-Star Game break, game one of a three game series against the Ohio Nine goes to Brooklyn.  The Cyclones loaded up with three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the eighth, en route to a 10-6 final over Mahoning Valley Friday night.

One of our newest Cyclone signings and native New Yorker hailing out of the Bronx; T.J. Rivera; helped the Surf Avenue Sluggers out-hit Mahoning Valley by going 4 for 5, with a double and two runs scored in only his fourth game wearing Bum Threads.  Richard Lucas and Ismael Tijerina each had two RBI on the night.

 

Cole Frenzel doubled in the second inning to score Charles Thurber.  Then, Mahoning Valley allowed the Cyclones to score a run in the third on a wild pitch.  Richard Lucas tripled in the fifth inning; driving home his two RBI, and Mahoning Valley allowed the Cyclones to score another run off another wild pitch in the fifth inning.  The Cyclones picked up one in the sixth on Ismael Tijerina's sac-bunt which scored Travis Taijeron.

 

A four run eighth inning capped the game off for the Cyclones.  Two more Scrapper's wild pitches  allowed two more runs to score. As a matter of fact, Mahoning Valley uncorked a multitude of wild pitches throughout the game, and utterly handicapped themselves in the eighth in particular.  RBI by Travis Taijeron and T.J. Rivera finished off the Scrappers for the night.

WILD TIME TONIGHT!

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

From

Somewhere in Ohio

Mike.BTB