Aberdeen Ironbirds Defeat Brooklyn Cyclones to Knot Series

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF

Aberdeen IronBirds vs. Brooklyn Cyclones

I - BKN 8; ABD 1

II - ABD 6; BKN 1

Series Tied at One; Decisive Game Three on Friday

The IronBirds brought Brooklyn's momentum to an abrupt halt Thursday evening at Aberdeen.  Facing right-hander Dominic Hamel, the Birds scored early and often, knocking the Cyclone starter out of the box after the fourth.  Hamel allowed five earned runs on five hits and four walks, and the Bird's pitching made it stand.  The Clones were held to four hits and two walks.  Third baseman William Lugo spoiled the shutout with a solo home run in the fifth.  Aberdeen scored against Sammy Tavarez in the seventh inning for a 6-1 lead and the final margin of victory.  The season hangs in the balance for the respective teams, the loser goes home, and the winner advances to the SAL championship series.

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Third Straight at Winston-Salem

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

Look What the Cyclones Did to the Dash, Again

Brooklyn opened with three runs in the first inning, and starter Dominic Hamel 

made it stand.  Designated hitter Carlos Rincon doubled home two runs and scored on Stanley Consuegra's single to left field.  Afterwhich, Hamel limited the Dash to four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts through the seventh.  

Hamel faced 25 batters, throwing 97 pitches with 64 (65.9%) going for strikes.  Making his eleventh start with Brooklyn, he improved to 5-1 with a 2.59 ERA.  

The Cyclones added late insurance.  Shortstop Shervyen Newton and Matt Rudick 

knocked home a run in the eighth, and Stanley Consuegra capped off the scoring with an RBI single in the ninth.  

Right-hander Sammy Tavarez yielded no hits and one walk with two strikeouts over the final two innings to preserve the shutout.

That makes three straight wins against Winston-Salem and 13 in their last 15 games.  Hudson Valley shut out the Blue Rocks at Wilmington to remain 1.5 games behind the Cyclones, who now own a magic number of two with three games left to play.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Lose Extra-Inning Pitcher's Duel to Wilmington

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*

*10 innings

Cyclones Suffer Heartbreaking Loss; Cede First Place Back to Hudson Valley Renegades

With first place on the line, a crowd of 3,894 was made to wait out an old-fashioned pitcher's duel as both Wilmington and Brooklyn twirlers served up goose eggs for nine full innings.  

The Blue Rocks went the opener's route, with Evan Lee getting the start and exiting after allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts through the second inning.  Three relievers combined to limit the Cyclones to a pair of hits over the next seven innings.  

Brooklyn starter Dominic Hamel effectively hurled a gem, holding the Blue Rocks to three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.  Right-hander Nolan Clenney followed with four strikeouts in two scoreless frames.

Then into extra innings on Coney Island, they went.

Southpaw Nathan Lavender was tasked with pitching the tenth.  The ghost runner was bunted over to third, then scored on Cody Wilson's base hit - simple as that.  

In the bottom of the tenth, Wilmington's Orlando Ribalta set down the Cyclones in order and struck out Jaylen Palmer to end the game.

Coupled with Hudson Valley's victory over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the Renegades regain a half-game lead ahead of the Cyclones with eight games left to play.  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 Undone By Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley vs. Brooklyn

I - HVR 7; BKN 4

Hudson Valley Slams the Brakes on Brooklyn; Seize First Place

The North Division showdown is on!  However, the opening fray did not go the Cyclones' way.  After jumping out to a 4-0 lead with pairs of runs in the third and fourth innings, Brooklyn's bats suddenly went silent.  They generated just two hits over the final five frames.  Meanwhile, Hudson Valley erupted for five decisive runs in the top of the fifth, then sealed the deal with two more in the eighth for a 7-4 game one victory.  The Renegades now enter Wednesday's game with a half-game lead over the Cyclones.

Left fielder Matt Rudick went 3 for 5, and shortstop Shervyen Newton finished 2 for 4 with a run batted in and one run scored.  

Right-hander Dominic Hamel sustained his first loss since joining the Cyclones, allowing five earned runs on five hits and five walks with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched.  The Renegades tacked on two runs against right-hander Dylan Hall in the eighth.

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Wilmington Blue Rocks

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

Joe Suozzi Causes Rock Slide in Wilmington

Brooklyn bounced back from Tuesday's opening loss to defeat Wilmington and even the series at one.

Second baseman Jose Peroza doubled home a run in the first inning, then reached on a fielder's choice, and scored in the third.  First baseman Joe Suozzi cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to right field as part of a six-run fourth inning, giving the Cyclones an 8-0 lead.  

The Blue Rocks finally manufactured a run in the home fourth to ruin the shutout.  Otherwise, the Blue Rocks were limited to six hits.  

Making his sixth start with Brooklyn, starter Dominic Hamel allowed one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts in five innings for the win.  He improved to 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA.  Southpaw Nathan Lavender yielded a hit and fanned a pair in two innings, and fellow left-hander Cam Opp closed things out with two scoreless innings.

Leadoff batter Matt Rudick was 2 for 4 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored.  With seven home runs, Joe Suozzi tied Jaylen Palmer for the team lead.  In his second game with Brooklyn, third baseman William Lugo donned the golden sombrero, going 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.

The win snaps a two-game skid and gets the Cyclones (52-52) back to par.  Hudson Valley defeated Aberdeen to maintain their half-game lead over Brooklyn.  BOXSCORE.

Brooklyn Cyclones Achieve First Ever Win Against 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

Cyclones and Mother Nature Douse the Dash on Coney Island

Still looking for their first-ever win against the Winston-Salem Dash, Brooklyn opened the scoring in the third.  The young and highly touted Alex Ramirez singled home two runs.  They increased their lead in the fifth.  Catcher Nic Gaddis doubled home a run, and Jose Peroza doubled home two giving Brooklyn a 5-0 lead.

Meanwhile, starter Dominic Hamel allowed no runs on just one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

In the top half of the seventh, Dash first baseman Harvin Mendoza homered against Nolan Clenney, 

pitching in relief of Hamel, and a light rain began to fall.  Then, in the bottom half of the frame at 8:59 pm, after a nearby flash of lightning, the game was delayed and ultimately called after a brief wait.

The game was declared an official contest, resulting in Brooklyn's first-ever, although abbreviated victory against the Winston-Salem Dash ball club.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

III - HVR 5; BKN 2

IV - BKN 5; HVR 1

Cyclones Even Series With Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting

Making his fourth start since being promoted from the St. Lucie Mets, right-hander Dominic Hamel 

faced off against Josue Panacual for Hudson Valley.  The pitchers engaged in a scoreless duel through the fifth.  

But after Brooklyn posted a trio of runs, Hamel and the bullpen made them stand.  

Shortstop Shervyen Newton homered leading off the sixth, and Nic Gaddis followed with two runs batted in.  Dominic Hamel completed six innings, allowing a mere four hits and two walks with six strikeouts.  He faced 23 batters, throwing 79 pitches with 52 (65.8%) going for strikes, and improved his record to 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. 

The Cyclones scored twice in the ninth for good measure.  Right fielder Stanley Consuegra and 19-year-old Alex Ramirez each knocked home a run.

Right-hander Oscar Rojas yielded Hudson Valley's first and only tally in the seventh, a solo home run by left fielder Grant Richardson.  Afterwhich, southpaw Nathan Lavender, making his sixth appearance with Brooklyn, secured the final six outs, three via strikeout, for his second save.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Retake Series Lead Against Greensboro Grasshoppers

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Greensboro vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 6; GRB 5

II - BKN 9; GRB 0

III - GRB 6; BKN 5

IV - GRB 2; BKN 1

V - BKN 6; GRB 2

Dominic Hamel Bottles Up the Grasshoppers

Brooklyn pulled ahead in their series against Greensboro on the gem hurled by Dominic Hamel, who earned his first victory as a member of the Cyclones.  Making his third start since his graduation from St. Lucie, Hamel allowed one unearned run on a pair of hits and four walks with ten strikeouts in six innings.  He faced 23 batters, throwing 96 pitches with 61 (63.5%) going for strikes.  Three bullpen members joined to yield one run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over the final three innings.  First baseman JT Schwartz knocked home a run and scored in the second.  In the third, Stanley Consuegra doubled home a run and scored on Nic Gaddis's sixth home run this season.  Consuegra scored again on a fielder's choice in the seventh.  Nic Gaddis and JT Schwartz are now tied for the team lead with 31 runs batted in.

• BOXSCORE