Brooklyn Cyclones Bats Go Dormant After Big First Inning; Hudson Valley Takes 4-1 Series Lead

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN vs. HUDSON VALLEY; 1-2

I - HVR 3; BRK 2

II - BRK 11; HVR 7

III - HVR 6; BRK 5

IV - HVR 3; BRK 1

V - HVR 6; BRK 4

Cyclones Serve Up Donuts at Wappingers Falls

Facing Hudson Valley starter Mitch Spence in the top of the first, Jeremy Vasquez doubles home two runs, and second baseman Jose Peroza homers to right field, giving the Cyclones an immediate 4-0 lead.  

But it does not last.  

Hudson Valley greets Cyclone starter Luc Rennie with five runs on just two hits, including one home run and four walks.  Rennie never makes it out of the first.  Right-hander Colby Morris is brought into the game with haste.

After the first inning, Mitch Spence proceeds to pitch four more scoreless innings.  Three Renegades' relievers take care of the rest, joining together in limiting Brooklyn to no runs on just two hits and no walks to preserve the victory.  Spence earns the win, and Derek Craft earns the save with a scoreless ninth.

The Renegades score one last run in the seventh for good measure.  Otherwise, the Cyclones' bullpen puts forth an effective effort.

Five of the Cyclones' nine hits come in the first, meaning they were held to four scattered hits the rest of the way.  The Brooks finish 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position and draw just one walk all game.  

Center fielder Antoine Duplantis leads Brooklyn with three hits.  BOXSCORE

Faulty Bullpen Short Circuits Brooklyn Cyclones Power Surge at Hudson Valley

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

GAME ONE

CYCLONES     7

RENEGADES    9

FINAL/BOXSCORE

Home Runs From Brett Baty, Luke Ritter, and Francisco Alverez Negated By Bullpen Meltdown 

Eight total pitchers climb the bump at Hudson Valley Tuesday night.  Only one walks off unscathed, Renegades reliever Derek Craft, who earns his second save this season.

In a rock'em, sock'em affair, the Cyclones trail 5-3 after four but erupted for three runs in the sixth.  However, Hudson Valley gets one back in the bottom of the frame to knot the game at five.

Cyclone starter Jaison Vilera allows five earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in only four innings pitched.  He faces 20 batters while throwing 60 pitches, with 36 (60%) going for strikes.  Right-hander Evy Ruibal, in relief of Vilera allows a run on one hit in two innings pitched.  

Renegades starter Josh Maciejewski allows three runs, including a home run off the bat of Francisco Alvarez (7) in the fourth.  Reliever Matt Minnick likewise yields three runs, including home runs by Brett Baty (7) and Luke Ritter (11), both in the sixth.

Brooklyn's Bryce Montes de Oca fails to pitch out of the seventh.  He is relieved by Mitch Ragan but not before surrendering two runs on a hit and three walks in just 0.2 of an inning pitched.  Like his stablemates before him, Ragan fails to keep Hudson Valley from tacking on, surrendering a run on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched.

Joe Genord delivers Francisco Alvarez in the eighth, but the Cyclones would score no more.  Five of Brooklyn's eight hits go for extra bases.  They strike out 13 times, draw four walks, and bat a mere 1 for 10 with runners in scoring positions.

But the bullpen simply does not hold.  On more baseball diamonds than not, three earned runs on three hits and three walks over the final two innings is a losing proposition.