Showing posts with label Connor O'Neil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Connor O'Neil. Show all posts

Friday, August 27, 2021

Brooklyn Cyclones: Noah Syndergaard Yields One of Four Aberdeen Home Runs in Game Four Loss Against Ironbirds

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

I - BRK 9; ABD 6
II - ABD 2; BRK 1
III - BRK 1; ABD 0
IV - ABD 12; BRK 5

CYCLONES ARE OUTSLUGGED ON SURF AVENUE

Making a rehab appearance, Noah Syndergaard started the first inning for the Brooklyn Cyclones against the Aberdeen Ironbirds at Coney Island.  After running the count 0-2 on the leadoff batter, Aberdeen's right fielder Lamar Sparks fouls off pitch three, then deposited Noah Syndergaard's fourth offering over the left field wall for a prompt Ironbird lead.

NOAH SYNDERGAARD: one inning, one run, one hit, no walks, one strikeout.  He faced five batters, threw 16 pitches, with 12 (75%) going for strikes.

The Cyclones recover in the home half of the first; Jaylen Palmer scores on designated hitter Ronny Mauricio double, tying the game at one.  

Brooklyn takes a 3-1 lead in the third on Cody Bohanek's two-run home run.  But it's short-lived.  Left fielder Cristopher Cespedes' three-run home run against Alec Kisena gives the Ironbirds a 4-3 advantage.

Aberdeen adds a single run in the fourth, and Brooklyn adds one in the fifth.  After a scoreless sixth inning, Connor O'Neil takes his turn on the bump in relief of Alec Kisena, and that's when things go awry.  Aberdeen strikes for four runs on four hits, including two doubles and the Ironbird's third home run of the game off the bat of third baseman Jean Carmona for a commanding 9-4 lead.

Brooklyn manages just one more run in the home eighth, but Aberdeen strikes for three more runs in the ninth for good measure, highlighted by center fielder Doran Turchin's three-run home run off Hunter Parsons - Aberdeen's fourth four-bagger of the game.  



Friday, August 20, 2021

Brooklyn Cyclones Suffer Crushing Defeat at Hudson Valley as Passive Manager Blankmeyer Looks On

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

I - HVR 3; BRK 2
II - BRK 11; HVR 7
III - HVR 6; BRK 5

Cyclone Skipper Draws a "Blank"

Trailing 5-4 Entering the Home Ninth, 
Hudson Valley Hits Two-Run Walkoff Home Run

In match number three between New York City's rival affiliates, the Renegades serve with single runs in the first and third innings.  Brooklyn return serves with a run in the fifth and four aces in the sixth.  But the Renegades volley with a run in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the seventh, tying the game at five.

Hudson Valley starter Edgar Barclay is knocked out of the box with two outs in the top of the sixth, but not before surrendering four runs on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts through 5.2 innings pitched.  Making his fifth start for the Cyclones, J.T. Ginn allows three runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts through six full innings pitched while exiting on the winning side of a 5-3 affair.

Facing Brooklyn's Connor O'Neil in the home seventh, Hudson Valley is helped to a pair of runs.  O'Neil surrenders a leadoff hit, then advances the runner with an errant pickoff attempt.  The Renegades then score on a fielder's choice.  Afterwhich, Connor O'Neil issues four consecutive bases on balls forcing in a second run and tying the game at five.  Manager Blankmeyer finally removes O'Neil in favor of Evy Ruibal, who closes out the seventh without further damage.

Hudson Valley's Charlie Ruegger and Evy Ruibal then pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Leading off the ninth, second baseman Luke Ritter doubles, and Jose Mena singles putting runners on the corners with one out.  Ritter then scores on Antoine Duplantis' fielder's choice to second, but Jose Mena is thrown out at second base on the continuation to end the inning, not before the Cyclones take a 6-5 lead.

Evy Rubial is sent blackout for the home half of the ninth and promptly yields a leadoff single.  That right there usually serves as a red flag, but an unconcerned manager Blankmeyer makes no move.  His ambivalence proves unfortunate, if not costly.  Because the very next batter, designated hitter Anthony Volpe launches a game-winning two-run home run over the left-field wall.

A deflating loss, for sure.  I'm left with little choice but to call manager Ed Blankmeyer on the carpet over this one.  Back in the seventh, Conner O'Neil clearly lacked effectiveness/control and perhaps was left in the game too long.  Insofar as Evy Rubial, he did his job in the seventh and again in the eighth.  Sending him out again for the ninth was already a questionable move.  But blame for not removing Rubial once the leadoff hitter singled safely falls squarely on the manager.

Luke Ritter finishes 2 for 4 with two runs batted in, and with one hit Ronny Mauricio also drives home two runs giving him 52 RBI in 84 games to date.  Third baseman Jose Peroza goes 2 for 4 with a double and one run batted in.




Monday, August 02, 2021

Brooklyn Cyclones Leave Runners Stranded Up and Down Jersey Shore; Blue Claws Take Series

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

 JERSEY SHORE defeats CONEY ISLAND; 4-2
I - BK 14; JS 5
II - JS 3; BK 1
III - BK 4; JS 0
IV - JS 3; BK 0
V - JS 4; BK 3
VI - JS 4; BK 3

O for Fugheddaboudit..!

Need a reason for Sunday's loss?  

How about thirteen?

Look no further than batting 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.  So, it's not like Brooklyn didn't have their opportunities.  Otherwise, the Cyclones twice relinquish the lead en route to a 4-3 loss.

In the first, Antoine Duplantis leads off the game with a single and soon scores on Francisco Alvarez's ground ball to second.  An inning later, Joe Genord singles and scores on a Nic Gaddis sacrifice fly.  However, Jersey Shore ties the game against starter Luc Rennie in the home second on a leadoff home run by D.J. Stewart immediately followed by a triple and sacrifice fly.

Brooklyn retakes the lead in the third on Francisco Alvarez's second run batted in.  Afterwhich, Brooklyn musters just two hits the rest of the game.

Jersey Shore scores the tying run in the sixth and seizes the lead on right fielder McCarty Tatum's two-out blast in the seventh.  Right-hander Connor O'Neil allows the decisive knock for the loss.  Luc Rennie escapes with a no-decision.

After trailing the Cyclones two games to one, the Blue Claws win their third straight and take the series over Brooklyn four games against two.



Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Brooklyn Cyclones Crash Upon Jersey Shore Like a Tidal Wave; Extend Win Streak To Seven

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS
I - BK 14; JS 5

It was high tide at Jersey Shore as wave after wave of Brooklyn youth crossed home plate.

Tuesday's series opener begins innocently enough.  Starting behind the plate, Francisco Alvarez singles home Edgardo Fermin in the first, and Blue Claw left fielder Jhailyn Ortiz homers in the second off Cyclone starter Jaison Vilera

Typical stuff ...

Brooklyn then scores twice in the third.  Left fielder Joe Suozzi scores from third on a fielder's choice, and Francisco Alvarez drives home his second run.  Afterwhich Jeremy Vasquez homers, leading off the fourth,

... and then the rout begins.

The Cyclones post five runs in the fifth, but Jersey Shore answers with four in the bottom half of the frame.  Jaison Vilera is removed after five runs on seven hits, and no walks with three strikeouts through 4.2 innings.  Right-hander Hunter Parsons takes over mound duty.  Not yet done, the Blankmeyers tack on four more runs in the sixth for a more comfortable 13-5 lead.  Both Edgardo Fermin and Ronny Mauricio hit a pair of home runs respectively in the fifth and sixth innings.

Right-hander Connor O'Neil climbs the bump in the seventh in relief of Parsons and proceeds to throw two scoreless innings of no-hit ball with three strikeouts.

Jersey Shore throws one away in the eighth when Jeremy Vasquez scores on a wild pitch.

Brian Metoyer throws a scoreless ninth to close out the Cyclones' seventh consecutive victory and the first in the series against the Blue Claws.

Edgardo Fermin drives in five of Brooklyn's 14 runs.  Hunter Parsons earns the win.



Friday, June 25, 2021

Brooklyn Cyclones Get Two-Hit By Jersey Shore Blue Claws

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

I - JS 7; BK 5
II - BK 3; JS 2
III - JS 3; BK 0

Two hits and surrendering unearned runs are no way to go through life.

Not again..!?

What is happening to my Surf Avenue Sluggers?

Without going back and checking, I know this is at least the fourth time the Cyclones have been two-hit by the opposition this season.  Hudson Valley did it to Brooklyn three times in one series.  

On Thursday, Blue Claws starter Kevin Gowdy faces 19 batters, throwing 78 pitches with 48 (61.5%) going for strikes.  He allows no runs on no hits and two walks with five strikeouts through six innings pitched for the win.  From the bullpen, Jersey Shore's Aidan Anderson yields a double to Brett Baty in the eighth, and in the ninth, Blake Brown surrenders a double to Juan Uriarte (still playing in place of  Francisco Alvarez), and that's all.  The Cyclones strike out nine times and draw two walks.  

Brooklyn starter Jose Butto starts out effectively but is foiled in the fifth.  He surrenders three runs, but only one is earned.  Otherwise, Butto allows only four hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched in a losing effort.  Relievers Connor O'Neil and Andrew Edwards join together for 4.1 scoreless innings.