Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Aberdeen IronBirds in SAL Playoff Opener

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF

Aberdeen IronBirds vs. Brooklyn Cyclones

I - BKN 8; ABD 1

Luis Moreno Hurls a Gem; Surf Avenue Sluggers Club Three Home Runs

For the first time in their respective histories, former New York-Penn League rivals, the Aberdeen Ironbirds, and Brooklyn Cyclones, met in the playoffs as members clubs of the (High-A) South Atlantic League.

Facing right-hander Luis Moreno, Aberdeen right fielder Dylan Beavers led off the game with a triple to right field.  Moreno struck out the next two batters swinging, and the third batter was caught looking.  

Second baseman Jose Peroza singled home the game's first run with two outs in the bottom half of the frame.

Ironbird center fielder Jud Fabian tied the game in the visitor's second with a home run to left.  But designated hitter Joe Suozzi promptly answered with a solo shot to end the frame.  Right fielder Stanley Consuegra then singled home a run in the third for a 3-1 Brooklyn lead.

The rest of the score was underwritten by the Surf Avenue insurance company.  

Left fielder Matt Rudick led off the fifth inning with a home run to right, and with one out and Alex Ramirez on base, Jose Peroza homered over the left/center field wall.  For good measure, Joe Suozzi tripled home a pair of runs in the eighth for an 8-1 margin of victory.

• Center fielder Alex Ramirez finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and the Cyclones got two-out RBI from Consuegra, Suozzi, and Peroza.

Making his most crucial professional start to date, Luis Moreno hurled a gem, allowing the lone run on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings for the win.  He faced 23 batters and threw 90 pitches, with 59 (65.5%) going for strikes.  

Right-hander Nolan Clenney yielded no hits over two scoreless innings, and Daison Acosta retired the Ironbirds to close the ninth.

• After making nine appearances with St. Lucie, Luis Moreno posted a 2.92 ERA and 1.091 WHiP in 77.0 innings with Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Cyclones Blank Winston-Salem to Clinch Division Flag

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

II - BKN 5; WSD 2

III - BKN 6; WSD 0

IV - BKN 3; WSD 0

Brooklyn Cyclones Clinch First-Ever South Atlantic League Division Flag

With Brooklyn shutting out the Winston-Salem Dash for a second straight game and the Hudson Valley Renegades bowing to the Blue Rocks at Wilmington, the Cyclones clinched the South Atlantic League North Division second-half flag.

Starter Jeffrey Colon hurled a gem.  Making his third start (sixth appearance) for Brooklyn, the right-hander surrendered a mere three hits and one walk with eight strikeouts for his first win as a Cyclone.  Colon faced 22 batters while throwing an economical 68 pitches, with an effective 69.1% (47) going for strikes.  

Serving as Coney's primary closer down the stretch, Daison Acosta tossed two scoreless innings of no-hit ball with one walk and two strikeouts for his tenth save this season.

Winston-Salem starter Luis Moncada matched Colon pitch for pitch but exited with a no-decision after allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five scoreless innings.  

Dash reliever Haylen Green pitched into and out of trouble in the sixth.  But things went away for Green in the seventh.  With one out, DH Joe Suozzi homered to left field.  With runners on the corners, Alex Ramirez singled home Shervyen Newton, and Jose Peroza knocked home Matt Rudick, giving the Clones a 3-0 lead and their final margin of victory.

Friday night marks Brooklyn's fourth straight win against the Dash, highlighted by back-to-back shutouts.  The Clones are now winners of six in a row and 14 of their last 16 games and improved to a second-half best 40-24 (.625) record and a 70-60 mark overall.

Two games remain in the regular season.  Afterwhich, the Cyclones will take on the first-half champ Aberdeen Ironbirds in the first-round North Division playoff.

Amazin' Starts Here! #LGM Playoff baseball returns to Coney Island - Can You Dig It?!! https://t.co/VWkE7Qq9DM

— The Metsian Podcast with Sam, Rich and Mike (@THEMetsianPod) September 10, 2022

Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Wilmington But Gain No Ground

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

II - WIL 11; BKN 7

III - BKN 9; WIL 1

IV - WIL 1; BKN 0

V - BKN 2; WIL 1

Cyclones Limit Wilmington to Three Hits; Keep Heat on Hudson Valley Renegades

Despite eleven hits, the Cyclones mustered only two runs, but the pitching made it stand.  Shortstop 

Shervyen Newton singled home a run in the second, and after Wilmington tied the game in the top of the fifth, JT Schwartz drove in the game's decisive run in the bottom of the frame.  Starter Jeffrey Colon was relieved after yielding the tying run.  He allowed two hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings.  Right-hander Sammy Tavarez followed with 2.1 scoreless innings for the win, and Daison Acosta closed the game with two scoreless innings of no-hit ball for his ninth save.  Up at Dutchess County Stadium, the Jersey Shore BlueClaws were drubbed by the Renegades, who get to spend another night with a half-game lead ahead of the Cyclones, with just seven games left in the season.  Boxscore

Chase for the SAL North Division 2nd half flag continues ... Brandon Nimmo bobblehead .. Coney Island .. Can You Dig It?! Let's Go Cyclones #LGM pic.twitter.com/e2YiC28pnG

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) September 3, 2022

Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Wilmington Blue Rocks to Remain in First Place

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

II - WIL 11; BKN 7

III - BKN 9; WIL 1

Luis Moreno Hurls Gem at Wilmington Blue Rocks

Making his 14th start, Luis Moreno hurled a gem to keep the Cyclones a step ahead in the standings over the Hudson Valley Renegades.  The right-hander faced 23 Wilmington batters while throwing 84 pitches, with 56 (66.6%) going for strikes.  Moreno allowed three hits and no walks with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched for the win.  Right-hander Daison Acosta tossed a scoreless eighth in relief, and Daniel Juarez closed out the ninth despite yielding an unearned run.  Catcher Matt O'Neill was the big man on campus, going 2 for 3 with a walk, three runs batted in, and three runs scored, and first baseman JT Schwartz was 3 for 5 with two runs batted in.

Jersey Shore provided no help, getting shut out by the Renegades.  With nine games left in the regular season, the Cyclones own a precarious half-game lead over the Renegades.

Brooklyn Cyclones Gain Share of First Place With Victory Over Wilmington

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

Bullpen Continues Closing Out Crucial Wins

While rain suspended play up in Hudson Valley, the Cyclones staged another thriller here on Coney Island.  They continued seizing the day with their seventh straight victory.

Facing starter Junior Santos, the visitors from Wilmington tallied an unearned run in the first inning.  Otherwise, Santos was on the mark, allowing no earned runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings.  He exited on the winning side after facing 24 batters and throwing 95 pitches, with 63 (66.3%) going for strikes.  

In the fourth, Stanley Consuegra singled home JT Schwartz, and Jose Mena doubled home Consuegra giving Brooklyn a 2-1 lead.

The bullpen made it stand.  In relief of Santos, right-hander Nolan Clenney followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of no-hit ball with no walks and five strikeouts.  Enter Daison Acosta for the ninth.  After striking out the leadoff batter, Acosta yielded three consecutive singles to load the bases.  But Daison regrouped, caught the next batter looking at strike three, then ran the count to 2-2 before striking out the final Blue Rock batter of the game.  Junior Santos earned the win, and Acosta the save, his eighth.

Tuesday's game at Dutchess County Stadium was suspended in the fifth, with Jersey Shore leading the Renegades by a 7-4 margin.  As such, the Cyclones pull into a first-place tie with Hudson Valley with eleven games remaining on the schedule.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Fifth Straight Against 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

IV - BK 7; JS 5

V - BK 8; JS 3

Cyclones Win Fifth Straight at Jersey Shore, But the Renegades Cede No Ground

Coney Island keeps stemming the tide at Jersey Shore, but for a fourth time in five games the Renegades defeated the Crawdads, while the Ironbirds took care of the Blue Rocks, and so all remains as it was, again.  The Cyclones trail Hudson Valley by one half game, and Aberdeen trails Brooklyn by one full game.  Sound familiar..?

The season grows shorter as three teams vy for the second-half North Division flag.  Coney Island on Saturday won their fifth straight against Jersey Shore, but the Renegades continue to do the same against the Hickory Crawdads.  

After tossing goose eggs through the fourth, starter Dominic Hamel walked a batter with the bases loaded, and an ensuing two-run single drew the BlueClaws within a run of tying the game at four.  But Jersey Shore would score no more.  Southpaw Daniel Juarez entered in the sixth and Sammy Tavarez followed.  Together, they hurled 2.2 scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Afterwhich, Daison Acosta secured the final five outs to nail down his seventh save, with Juarez earning the victory, his first in three appearances for Brooklyn.  

Five Cyclones weilded two hits each as part of a 13-hit attack.  First baseman JT Schwartz went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in and second baseman Jose Peroza knocked in his team-leading 46th run batted in.  BOXSCORE

 

Brooklyn Cyclones Outlast Jersey Shore BlueClaws in Extra Innings

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore

I - BK 7; JS 0

II - BK 5; JS 4*

*10 innings

Resilient Cyclones Win in Tenth Inning

The Cyclones and BlueClaws played a barnburner at ShoreTown Ballpark.  

With two outs and two runners on base in the top of the first, right-fielder Stanley Consuegra singled home the game's opening run.  In a presage of things to come, Jersey Shore answered with two runs in the home third.  After a scoreless fourth inning, shortstop Shervyen Newton homered to left field with catcher Matt O'Neill on base.  But Brooklyn's slim lead did not last, as the BlueClaws tallied a run in the home sixth facilitated by a Matt O'Neill throwing error.  

The deadlock then remained unchanged through the eighth.  

Both starting pitchers exited to no decisions.  Brooklyn's Junior Santos allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings.  Jersey Shore southpaw Rafael Marcano yielded three earned runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings.

Cyclone right-hander Dylan Hall delivered 2.1 scoreless innings of no-hit baseball with two strikeouts to complete the eighth.  Two BlueClaw relievers joined in tossing 3.0 innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts.

Then came the ninth.  Stanley Consuegra homered over the left field wall leading off the visitor's half.  Manager Rivera then summoned from the bullpen right-hander Daison Acosta to close.  But the game was again tied with a leadoff hit, a walk, and two sacrifice plays later.

In the top of the tenth, with Matt O'Neill, the ghost runner at second, Shervyen Newton singled, putting runners on the corners.  O'Neill then scored on Matt Rudick's sac-fly to right, giving Brooklyn a 5-4 lead.

Daison Acosta again climbed the bump.  With the ghost runner on base, Acosta fanned the first batter faced, then issued an intentional walk, followed by an unintentional four-pitch walk that loaded the bases.  Acosta regrouped to strike out the next batter, then ended the game on a groundball 3 to1 putout at first base for the win.

The Cyclones held on for another crucial win.  They've re-achieved par with a 58-58 season record and improved to 28-22 in the second half.  Wednesday night's victory keeps Brooklyn on pace with first-place Hudson Valley, who still lead the division by one-half game, and Aberdeen, who again defeated Wilmington to remain tied in second place with Coney Island.

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

Brooklyn Cyclones Retake First Place With Victory Over Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley vs. Brooklyn

I - HVR 7; BKN 4

II - BKN 7; HVR 5

Coney Island Strikes Back!

The Cyclones set the tone of this game with a three-run second inning.  With one out and the bases loaded, Matt O'Neill singled home a run, shortstop Shervyen Newton drew a walk to force home a second run, and Jaylen Palmer scored on Matt Rudick's sac-fly to center.  The teams traded runs in the third inning.  Third baseman Tyler Hardman homered for Hudson Valley, and William Lugo drove in a run for Brooklyn.  Second baseman Jose Peroza then singled home a run in the fifth, and William Logo homered off the left field scoreboard in the seventh.

Jose Peroza and William Lugo joined together for six hits in eight at-bats, with two extra-base hits, three runs batted in, and three runs scored.

Making a spot start in only his second appearance with Brooklyn, right-hander Jeffrey Colon allowed a run (home run) on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.  Right-hander Nolan Clenney followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with two strikeouts.  Making his third appearance with Brooklyn, southpaw Keyshawn Askew hurled three scoreless innings through the eighth but encountered trouble, yielding three runs in the ninth.  Afterwhich, Daison Acosta was called upon to close out the frame.  Another base runner crossed home, making it a 7-5 Cyclone lead.  Acosta then put the tying run on base with a walk.  Finally, at 9:57 pm, Daison Acosta struck out designated hitter Spencer Henson to end the game.  Nolan Clenney gets the win.  BOXSCORE

With the victory, the Cyclones retake first place by one half-game over the Hudson Valley Renegades.  

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Pressure-Packed Thriller at Wilmington

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

VI - BKN 6; WIL 5

Cyclones Stage Ninth-Inning Comeback; Retake First Place

The Brooklyn Cyclones kicked up their playoff chase another notch.  Trailing 4-5 entering the top of the ninth at Frawley Stadium, right fielder Matt Rudick picked an excellent time to hit his second home run this season - a two-run home run to straightaway center field.  Right-hander Daison Acosta hurled a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to close the victory and earn his third win.  After two scoreless frames, Brooklyn opened the scoring.  With two outs in the top of the third, center fielder Alex Ramirez singled home two runs.  In the home half, however, Gregory Guerrero's second-base error jump-started a four-run rally, all unearned.  The Cyclones were quick to answer with two in the fourth on hits by Jaylen Palmer and Rudick.  But Wilmington again seized the lead with a run in the fifth.  Afterwhich, the score remained unchanged until Matt Rudick stepped to the plate in the ninth.  Relievers Oscar Rojas, Nolan Clenney, and Acosta held the Blue Rocks scoreless through the final five innings.  Brooklyn salvages a series split with Wilmington.  Moreover, they lead the SAL North division by one-half game over the Hudson Valley Renegades, who lost Sunday against the Aberdeen Ironbirds.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Take Third Straight Contest From Winston-Salem Dash

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Winston-Salem vs. Brooklyn

I - WSD 4; BKN 2

II - WSD 8; BKN 0

III - BKN 5; WSD 1

IV - BKN 2; WSD 0

V - BKN 3; WSD 1

Cyclones Now Hold 1.5 Game Lead Over Hudson Valley and Aberdeen 

Make that three in a row ...

After yielding twelve runs in the first two games to Winston-Salem, Brooklyn's pitching has since limited the Dash to just a pair of runs over the last 27 innings.

Saturday's mound matchup featured Cristian Mena for the visitors pitted against Junior Santos for the Coney Islanders.  

The teams traded runs in the opening frame.  Shortstop Colson Montgomery tripled and scored in the top half, and in Brooklyn's turn, designated hitter Nic Gaddis singled home the tying run.

In the home second, with one out and base runner Shervyen Newton poised at first base, recent graduate 

Gregory Guerrero connected on a two-run home run - his first in four games since arriving from the Port St. Lucie Mets.

The score remained unchanged over the final six and a half innings of play.  Making his 19th start, right-hander Junior Santos allowed one run on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts to earn his sixth win.  Right-hander Daison Acosta closed the game with two scoreless innings to earn his fifth save.

Brooklyn now owns a 3-2 series edge in their first-ever contests against Winston-Salem, with the finale slated for Sunday.  Afterwhich the Cyclones will have exactly thirty games left on their schedule.  The final series of the season is against the Dash at Winston-Salem.

Hudson Valley lost both games of a doubleheader against Jersey Shore, giving the first-place Cyclones a 1.5-game lead over Hudson Valley and Aberdeen in the South Atlantic League North Division.

New York Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Yankees and Affiliated Rival in Local Showdowns

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

Up in Dutchess County Stadium, the Kings County Kids tied their series against the Renegades, while in Queens, their parent club staged a ninth-inning walk-off victory over the Bronx club at Citi Field.

The night's main feature was Brooklyn's pitching, who held Hudson Valley scoreless through the seventh.  But the Renegades spoiled the shutout with two runs in the eighth.  

Making his seventh start (ninth appearance) with the Cyclones, right-hander Luis Moreno allowed a mere two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings.  This season's St. Lucie graduate faced twenty batters and threw 79 pitches, with a very effective 59 (74.6%) going for strikes.  It marks Moreno's first victory at the high-A level, and he now boasts a reduced 2.90 ERA through 80.2 total innings pitched.  Right-hander Daison Acosta yielded two earned runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over the final three innings to earn his fourth save.

Facing Renegade starter Blas Castano, the Cyclones engaged in a scoreless duel through the fifth.  Once Castano departed from the box, the game promptly tilted in Brooklyn's favor.  Now facing the bullpen in the sixth, designated hitter Rowdey Jordan singled home a run, and first baseman JT Schwartz blasted a grand slam home run to right/center.  Center fielder Alex Ramirez singled home another run in the seventh, giving the Cyclones a 6-2 final margin of victory.  BOXSCORE

Meanwhile, back in Queens, Max Scherzer fanned Aaron Judge three times, allowed five hits and two walks with six overall strikeouts in seven innings, but walked off to a no-decision.  Pete Alonso homered in the second, and Francisco Lindor knocked in a run in the third.  After the Yankees tied the game in the eighth, Starling Marte delivered home the game-winning run in the ninth with a line single to left.  The Mets completed a two-game sweep of the Yankees.

Brooklyn Cyclones Shut Out the Greensboro Grasshoppers

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Greensboro vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 6; GRB 5

II - BKN 9; GRB 0

Cyclone Pitchers Join Together on Four-Hit Shutout

The hits were plentiful, and the pitching was superb as the Brooklyn Cyclones won their second straight game in their first-ever series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Right fielder Stanley Consuegra doubled home Brooklyn's first run in the third inning, and the pitching made it stand.  Making his ninth start and fifteenth appearance, right-hander Garrison Bryant allowed no runs on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings for the win.  He faced twenty batters, throwing 83 pitches with 52 (62.6%) going for strikes.  Garrison improved to 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA.  Right-hander Daison Acosta closed out the game allowing one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings for his second save.

Left fielder Matt Rudick knocked home a run in the fifth, Nic Gaddis scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, and Consuegra doubled home his second run of the game in the seventh.  The Cyclones then erupted for five runs in the eighth, highlighted by Stanley Consuegra's three-run home run.  Stanley finished the afternoon 4 for 5 with three doubles, a home run, and five runs batted in; Matt Rudick went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in; Shervyen Newton was 3 for 4 with one RBI and three runs scored.

• Boxscore

Nick Zwack Hurls Gem in Brooklyn Cyclones Victory Over Aberdeen Ironbirds

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Aberdeen vs. Coney Island

I - ABD 3; BKN 1

II - BKN 4; ABD 2

Nick Zwack Fans Ten of Twenty-One Batters Faced

Brooklyn did their scoring early, while Aberdeen tallied their runs late.  But the visitors fell short as the Cyclones evened their series with the Ironbirds at one apiece.

Southpaw Nick Zwack hurled a gem, limiting the Ironbirds to a mere two hits and one walk with ten strikeouts in six innings for the win.  He faced 21 batters, throwing 80 pitches with a highly efficient 59 (73.7%) going for strikes.  Zwack improved to 3-1 with a minuscule 1.37 ERA and 0.848 WHiP.

The Ironbirds injected some intrigue into the game during the final two frames.  But right-hander Daison Acosta held it together, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts for a nine-out save.

Leading off the home half of the first inning, left fielder Matt Rudick connected on his second home run of the season, and recently promoted Stanley Consuegra doubled home a pair, giving the Cyclones a prompt 3-0 lead.  Catcher Nic Gaddis then homered leading off the third inning.  Boxscore

Brooklyn Cyclones Drop Opener Against Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN vs. HUDSON VALLEY

I - HVR 5; BKN 2 

You guessed it ... the curse of Wappingers Falls endures.  

The Cyclones are back at Dutchess Stadium, where they've become notorious for wielding minimal hits, much less seeing-eye ground balls or even foul tips.  Tuesday evening proved no different.  Despite being issued seven bases on balls, Brooklyn mustered a mere three hits and again recorded double-digit strikeouts against the Renegades.

First baseman JT Schwartz, shortstop Shervyen Newton, and second baseman Jose Peroza who tripled home Brooklyn's only two runs, accounted for Brooklyn's only hits.

Right-hander Junior Santos allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts in five innings pitched for the loss.  Right-handed reliever Daison Acosta allowed a run on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts over the final three innings.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Late Rally at Coney Island Wipes Out Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE OF THE BEACHES

Jersey Shore vs. Coney Island

I - BK 4; JS 3

Cyclones Usher in the Summer Season With a Late-Inning Thriller at Coney Island 

Facing right-hander Carson Seymore, Jersey Shore tallied twice in the first and pushed across another in the fourth.  Seymore was removed after allowing six hits, including a first-inning home run, and striking out four batters in four innings pitched.  Right-hander Daison Acosta entered in relief and pitched superbly, holding the Blue Claws scoreless on just one hit and one walk over the final five innings.

Still trailing 3-0 entering the home eighth, designated hitter Tanner Murphy led off with a home run, and Nic Gaddis doubled home JT Schwartz to bring the Cyclones within one.

After Daison Acosta retired the Blue Claws in order in the visitor's ninth, center fielder Jaylen Palmer 

lined a leadoff single to center, and catcher Matt O'Neill walked.  Both runners advanced on Tanner Murphy's long fly to right field.  The Blue Claws then made a pitching change bringing in southpaw J.P. Woodward, who promptly unleashed a wild pitch allowing Palmer to score the tying run.  Matt O'Neill advanced to third on the play and scored the winning run on Matt Rudick's fly to left field.

Making his fifth start for Brooklyn, Carson Seymore escaped with a no-decision.  Meanwhile, hard-luck Daison Acosta might have put forth his best effort this season.  He faced 17 batters while throwing 67 pitches, with 47 (70.1%) going for strikes.  Acosta entered the game with 34 hits allowed, a 7.0 W/9, and an unsightly 9.29 ERA through eleven appearances and 31.0 innings pitched, but this outing did well to turn that all around and earn his first win of the season.

• BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Dismantle Bowling Green Hot Rods

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Bowling Green

I - BK 11; BG 9

II - BG 8; BK 0

III - BG 5; BK 1

IV - BK 20; BG 6

They Did The Mash ...

The Cyclones took out their season-long frustrations Friday night against the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Right fielder Joe Suozzi homered, leading off the first.  After Rowdey Jordan homered leading off the second, Suozzi delivered home two more runs, and Nic Gaddis, in turn, drove home Suozzi for a 5-0 Brooklyn lead.

Bowling Green scored once in the bottom of the third, then rallied for four runs in the fourth, tying the game at five.

Starter Daison Acosta allowed five runs on six hits and no walks with four strikeouts before being relived after the fourth.

Catcher Matt O'Neill homered, leading off the home fifth.  Gaddis again delivered home Suozzi giving the Cyclones a 7-5 lead.  Afterwhich, center fielder Jaylen Palmer connected on a three-run home run.

But the Cyclones were only warming up.  The Brooks posted ten runs in the top of the sixth on six hits and four walks, a hit by pitch, and an error.  With one out, designated hitter Brandon McIlwain homered to left/center with two on.  It was the Cyclones' fifth home run of the game. 

Coney Island cranked out 20 runs on 19 hits, with seven going for extra bases.  They drew six walks and struck out ten times.

Right-hander Brendan Hardy pitched two innings in relief of Acosta for the win and Grant Hartwig 

pitched the final three frames with four strikeouts for the save.

Brooklyn Cyclones Shut Out in Series Finale by Bowling Green

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Brooklyn splits w/ Bowling Green; 3-3

I - BK 5; BG 4

II - BG 4; BK 1

III - BG 7; BK 6

IV - BK 3; BG 1

V - BK 5; BG 2

VI - BG 4; BK 0

Cyclones Settle For Series Split With Hot Rods 

When this team consistently gets limited to three hits or less and continually strikes out in double digits, what else is there to ponder?  

This is a continuation of last season.  

Either the definition of prospect development has changed or it's just me being an old curmudgeon.  While the latter may be true, what the Baby Bums are being taught in school is just not cool!

Two of the Cyclones' three hits went for extra bases by JT Schwartz and Joe Suozzi, and catcher Jose Mena accounted for the only other hit.

The overall pitching line looks good, but starter Daison Acosta's line does not, after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts through 3.1 innings pitched.  His record dropped to 0-3 with a whopping 10.61 ERA.  However, three relievers joined in limiting the Hot Rods to one run on just two hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over the final 5.2 innings pitched. 

Brooklyn will next play the Ironbirds at Aberdeen.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Old Rival Takes Series Opener at Hudson Valley

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Hudson Valley leads Brooklyn; 1-0

I - HVR 5; BKN 3

One, Two, Three Strikes; You're Out!

The visiting Cyclones promptly take a 1-0 lead to open the game.  But the Renegades rally for two runs while facing Brooklyn right-hander Daison Acosta in the home half of the first.  

Coney Island answered right back in the second.  With one out, catcher Matt O'Neill reaches on an E5 and advances to third on Joe Suozzi's double down the left field line.  O'Neill scored when left fielder 

Rowdy Jordan bounced into a fielder's choice.  Afterwhich, shortstop Wilmer Reyes singled home Suozzi for a 3-2 Cyclones lead.

But that's when the fun ends for Coney Island.  

Hudson Valley knots the game at three against Daison Acosta in the third.  In fact, both starting pitchers exit with no decisions.  

The Renegades score the go-ahead against losing right-hander Nolan Clenney in the sixth and secure an insurance run in the eighth inning against Colby Morris, who pitched the final two innings for Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, three Hudson Valley relievers join together in limiting Brooklyn to no runs on just three hits and one walk with twelve strikeouts over the final six frames.  Overall, the Cyclones fanned 17 times in 33 at-bats, a rate of 51.5 %, during Tuesday's series opener at Dutchess Stadium.

• BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones: McNamara Division Proving Difficult Hill to Climb

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BASEBALL BY THE BEACH

West Virginia Black Bears

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Steeplechase Grounds

CONEY ISLAND

The McNamara Division is fit to be tied.  Just over one-third through the 2019 season, all four member clubs have taken turns occupying first place.  By close of business Saturday, the Hudson Valley Renegades lead both the Brooklyn Cyclones and Aberdeen Ironbirds by one game, and the Staten Island Yankees by 2.5 games.

Offensively speaking, the Cyclones are somewhat of an enigma.

• Hits: 5th in league; 1st in division.
• Home runs: 5th in league; 2nd division.
• Total bases: 5th in league; 1st division.
• Team average: 5th in league; 1st division.
• Team slugging: 4th in league; 1st division.
• OPS: 8th in league: but 2nd division.
• Yet Coney Island is sixth in the league in strikeouts, dead last in walks, and 11th in the league in runs scored.

(LF)-Yoel Romero is batting .321 which rates third in the league.  With only six NYPL players presently hitting above .300, (RF)-Ranfy Adon's .277 mark ranks 12 best.

(2B)-Luke Ritter ranks fourth in the league with a .392 OPS.  Yoel Romero is second on the team and 13th in the league with a .369 OPS.

(1B)-Joe Genord is fourth in the circuit with a .506 slugging average.  Yoel Romero is right behind Joe with a fifth ranked .500 slugging average.

• YOEL ROMERO  .321/.369/.500, six doubles, two HR, ten RBI through 78 at-bats.
• JOE GENORD  .259/320/.506, six doubles, five HR, 19 RBI through 85 at-bats.

Cyclones pitching has been somewhat more confounding.

• The Cyclones have so far yielded the NYPL's least hits.
• As such they own the league's second lowest WHiP; second in division.
• They've surrendered the seventh most earned runs; but the least within the division.
• The seventh most home runs; but second least in division.
• The seventh most walks; but least within the division.
• However Cyclones 3.56 team ERA ranks eighth; last in division.
• The sixth most strikeouts; but third in division.

Starter Jaison Vilera is presently the lone Cyclone starting pitcher sporting an ERA (3.81) below four among those with at least four starts.  He likewise leads the Cyclones with a 1.20 WHiP.  Garrison Bryant is second with a 1.26 WHiP, and also leads the team with 27 strikeouts.  Vilera has 23 strikeouts through through 28.1 innings pitched.  

• Daison Acosta is 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 0.82 WHiP, yielding just two earned runs on none hits and six walks with 25 strikeouts though 18.1 innings pitched.

Seven different relievers have registered saves for manager Alfonzo.  Luis Silva leads with four despite an unsightly 6.75 ERA through 9.1 innings.  However relievers Andrew Edwards, Matt Mullenbach, and Dan Goggin, have joined to post a 3-1 record with a 2.08 ERA and six saves with 37 strikeouts and ten hits allowed through 30.2 innings.

The Cyclones are 6-7 in the month of July, and 15-13 overall.  In fact the Cyclones and West Virginia Black Bears enter Sunday's action with identical records.  Brooklyn outlasts the Black Bears 3-1 in Saturday's series opener.  Starting pitcher Alec Kisena,  and relievers Daniel Goggin, Yeudy Conlon, and  Matt Mullenbach join to yield just one run on five hits and five walks with 15 strikeouts.  Goggin earns his second relief win of the season.  Mullenbach earns his second save.

Kisena joins the Cyclones after making 16 appearances with the Columbia Fireflies, where he posts a 4.65 ERA with 17 walks and 32 strikeouts through 31 innings pitched.

• Stats: New York Penn League

SUNDAY

Black Bears   1

Cyclones       4

FINAL

Brooklyn wins their second straight against the Vest Virginia Black Bears and close to withing one-half game of the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.  Starter Matt Cleveland and closer Andrew Edwards combine on a nine inning gem.  Cleveland yields no runs on just one hit and one walk with one strikeout over 6.1 innings to earn his first victory of the season.  Edwards surrenders one run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout over 2.2 innings en route to his third save.  Catcher Jose Mena is 1 for 3 with a triple, and RBI.  Second baseman Luke Ritter is 2 for 3 with two runs scored.  Center fielder Jake Mangum is 2 for 4 with a run scored.