Brooklyn Cyclones Power Up Against Winston-Salem

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

II - BKN 5; WSD 2

Brooklyn's Magic Number is Three, With Four to Play

The Brooklyn Cyclones remain in control of their destiny.  They took a second straight contest from the Dash on Wednesday and are now winners of 12 of their last 14 games and lead all SAL teams with a second-half 38-24 (.613) record.  Meanwhile, the Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Blue Rocks at Wilmington to stay within 1.5 games of the Cyclones, with four games left to play.

Winston-Salem took an early lead, manufacturing two runs on three hits off starter Luis Moreno in the first.  But they would score no more.  Moreno limited the Dash to four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.  He exited on the winning side thanks to Coney Island's five-run outburst in the third.  

Left fielder Matt Rudick kicked things off with a clutch two-out run-scoring triple, then scored on an Alex Ramirez double to center.  First baseman JT Schwartz drove in Ramirez with a home run to right field, and Jose Peroza went back-to-back with his eighth home run this season.

Right-hander Franklin Sanchez struck out the side in the eighth, and Dylan Hall earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Take Over 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

IV - WIL 1; BKN 0

V - BKN 2; WIL 1

VI - BKN 11; WIL 5

Look Who's Number One!

The Cyclones provided fans with one last regular-season thrill on Coney Island.  They scored early, often, and late in a rout of the Wilmington Blue Rocks.  

With three runs in the first and six in the third, starter Mike Vasil was pulled after allowing no runs, no hits, and no walks, with two strikeouts.  Right-hander Junior Santos pitched the next three innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts to earn his eighth win.  However, the bullpen suffered a minor implosion, allowing four runs in the ninth inning before Dylan Hall was called upon to secure the final out.  

Replacing Matt Rudick in left field, Justin Guerrera capped off the scoring for Brooklyn with a two-run home run in the eighth.  Right fielder Stanley Consuegra and William Lugo also drove home two runs apiece.  

Brooklyn takes the series from Wilmington four games to two.  They now own the SAL's top second-half record with a 36-24 (.600) mark.  Coupled with Jersey Shore's victory at Dutchess Stadium, the Clones head to Winston-Salem with a half-game division lead ahead of the Renegades with six games left to play.  Hudson Valley must now travel to Wilmington while Brooklyn visits the Dash.  BOXSCORE

Wilmington Blue Rocks Pound Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

II - WIL 11; BKN 7

Cyclone Bullpen Suffers Late-Inning Rock Slide

Everything started so marvelously.  Second baseman Jose Peroza singled home Brooklyn's first run, catcher Jose Mena hit a three-run home run to left field, William Lugo followed with a solo shot to center, and the Cyclones were off and running with a 5-0 first-inning lead.  

Wilmington scored once in the third, but Matt Rudick gave Brooklyn a 6-1 lead in the fourth.  

Starter Christian Scott was removed after the fourth, allowing one run on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts.  

Afterwhich, the bullpen suffered a significant implosion.  The Blue Rocks rallied for two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and six in the eighth, highlighted by Leandro Emiliani's grand slam.  The Cyclones' only response was William Lugo's RBI single in the seventh.  Right-hander Dylan Hall both suffered a blown save and took the loss.  

But there's good news!  Our Jersey Shore neighbors swept a double-header from our northern rivals at Dutchess County Stadium.  Thanks to the BlueClaws, Brooklyn gained a half-game lead in the standings ahead of the Renegades with only ten left to play.  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.

Hudson Valley Renegades Hand Brooklyn Cyclones Crushing Defeat in Extra Innings

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

V - HVR 5; BKN 0

VI - HVR 9; BKN 3*

*10-innings

No Joy on Coney Island

This was easily Brooklyn's most crushing defeat against Hudson Valley this season, if not the last two seasons.  The Cyclones got off on the right foot when catcher Jose Mena singled home a run in the second.  Then began the tug-of-war.  Hudson Valley scored twice in the third, but the Cyclones tied the game on Jose Mena's home run in the fourth.  The Renegades quickly reclaimed a 3-2 lead in the fifth.  Second baseman Jose Peroza then singled home the tying run in the seventh.  Afterwhich, the score remained unchanged through the ninth.  After securing the last two outs in the previous inning, Dylan Hall climbed the bump again for the tenth.  Only this time, the rope snapped.  The Renegades scored six times, highlighted by left fielder Aaron Palensky's grand slam home run.  Brooklyn was retired in order in the bottom half of the frame.  The Cyclones now fall into a second-place tie with the Aberdeen Ironbirds.  Both trail the Renegades by 1.5 games in the (second-half) standings with 18 games left in the season.  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 Their Series With 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

Cyclones Hurl Six-Hit Shutout; Claim Share of First Place

Three Brooklyn pitchers joined together in hurling a six-hit shutout over Winston-Salem on Friday to even their first-ever series against the Dash at two games apiece.

The Cyclones mustered just four hits all game but timed them perfectly.  With one out in the second, center fielder Stanley Consuegra tripled and scored on Jose Peroza's double to center field, and with one out and the bases loaded in the third, catcher Juan Loyo scored on a fielder's choice giving the Cyclones a two-run lead.  Designated hitter Rowdey Jordan and Juan Loyo accounted for Brooklyn's other two hits.

Starter Keyshawn Askew and the bullpen took care of the rest.  

Making his first start with Brooklyn after thirteen appearances and four starts with the St. Lucie Mets, southpaw Keyshawn Askew limited the Dash to three hits, and no walks with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings but did not qualify for a decision.  Right-handed reliever David Griffin surrendered just two hits with four strikeouts in 3.2 innings for the win - his second of the season, and Dylan Hall closed out the game with a scoreless ninth to preserve the shutout and earn his third save.

This was Brooklyn's 100th game in which they posted an even 50-50 record.  Friday's victory gives the Cyclones a 20-14 second-half record, tying them for first place in the South Atlantic League North Division with the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Brooklyn Cyclones Earn Victory in Season's First Game Against Greensboro Grasshoppers

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Greensboro vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 6; GRB 5

Cyclones Outlast Grasshoppers in Coney Island Series Opener

The Cyclones welcomed the Greensboro Grasshoppers to Coney Island for the first time this season and promptly knocked starter Santiago Florez out of the box.  Designated hitter Matt Rudick drew a leadoff walk and scored on a sac-fly in the first.  The Cyclones then scored four times in the second, highlighted by a Jose Peroza home run and extra-base hits off the bats of Jaylen Palmer and Rudick.  Greensboro reliever Domingo Gonzalez was summoned to finish the inning.  With one out in the fourth, catcher Jose Mena connected on his fourth home run this season, giving the Cyclones a 6-0 lead.

Brooklyn southpaw Nick Zwack got off to another superlative start.  He held the Grasshoppers scoreless through the fifth inning.  But Greensboro chased him from the game in the sixth by bunching together three doubles for a pair of runs.  The visitors again tallied twice against Nolan Clenney in the seventh and one more time against Dylan Hall in the eighth to suddenly make it a one-run game.  Brooklyn put two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth but left them stranded.  Right-hander Dylan Hall climbed the hill again for the ninth and caught first baseman Jacob Gonzalez looking at strike three to end the game.  Starter Nick Zwack improves to 4-1 with a 1.58 ERA.  Dylan Hall earned his first save.

• BOXSCORE

Francisco Alvarez Hits Twentieth Home Run But Cyclones Lose Series Finale at Hudson Valley

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN @ HUDSON VALLEY

I - HV 7; BK 6

II - BK 4; HV 0

III - BK 10; HV 8

IV - BK 6; HV 4

V - HV 4; BK 1

VI - HV 7; BK 0

VII - HV 13; BK 9

Coney Island Gets Walloped at Wappingers Falls; Renegades Take Series

With two outs and two runners on base in the visitor's first, second baseman Luke Ritter launches a home run to left field off Renegade starter Matt Sauer for a prompt 3-0 lead.

However, making his sixth start for Brooklyn, right-hander David Griffin fails to make it out of the second inning.  Hudson Valley scores seven times on six hits, with three going for home runs.  Forced into early relief duty, Colby Morris yields another three runs in the third, highlighted by Hudson Valley's fourth home run of the game.  

Making his second appearance for Brooklyn, Reyson Santos takes over in the fifth and surrenders another three runs on two walks, two hits, and a hit-by-pitch giving the Renegades a 13-4 lead.

Brooklyn shows signs of life with a four-run sixth.  Left fielder Zack Ashford drives home Jaylen Palmer, and Wilmer Reyes connects on a three-run home run.

Cyclone relievers Dylan Hall and Michel Otanez join together for three scoreless innings through the eighth.

Designated hitter Francisco Alvarez hits his twentieth home run this season with one out in the ninth, becoming the first Cyclone to ever achieve this milestone.  He hit two home runs with St. Lucie prior to his arrival in Brooklyn.

Alas, it's not enough.  Hudson Valley wins the rubber game and finishes the season series against the Cyclones with a 24-12 record.

Wilmer Reyes Makes Grand Return With Decisive Triple; Brooklyn Cyclones Take Third Straight From Hudson Valley

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN @ HUDSON VALLEY

I - HV 7; BK 6

II - BK 4; HV 0

III - BK 10; HV 8

IV - BK 6; HV 4

Coney Island Continues Getting In Last Licks Against Renegades Before Season's End; Take 3-1 Series Lead

Shortstop seems to agree with Cody Bohanek, who takes over the position from Ronny Mauricio upon his promotion earlier today to Binghamton.  

Leading off the game for Brooklyn, Bohanek homers off Hudson Valley starter Beck Way for a prompt 1-0 lead.  However, it does not last.  Making his 19th start for Brooklyn, Jaison Vilera surrenders two runs in the home first on three hits, including a triple by right fielder Jake Sanders.  But the Cyclones quickly tie the game in the second on Zack Ashford's run-scoring single.

Beck Way earns himself a trip to the showers in the third after walking the bases loaded.  With two outs, returning member of the 2019 champion Cyclones, first baseman Wilmer Reyes greets incoming reliever Trevor Holloway with a bases-clearing double to left field; all runs charged to Beck Way.

Facing Holloway in the fifth, catcher Francisco Alvarez draws a leadoff walk and comes around to score on a fielder's choice for a 6-2 lead.

After five, Jaison Vilera exits on the winning side, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks with two strikeouts.  In relief of Vilera, Hunter Parsons yields a home run in the home eighth.  Afterwhich, Dylan Hall enters in relief of Parsons and yields a second run before the frame is through.

They go at Dutchess Stadium into the ninth inning, with Brooklyn holding on to a 6-4 lead.

Hudson Valley right-hander Derek Craft surrenders a leadoff hit to Francisco Alvarez but retires the next three batters consecutively.  Brooklyn right-hander Evi Ruibal is called upon to pitch the ninth and completes the job to earn his second save.  Mr. Hard-Luck himself, Jaison Vilera, earns his third victory.

All told, four Brooklyn pitchers limit Hudson Valley to four runs on seven hits and just two walks with eight collective strikeouts.  

• BOXSCORE

But in a ponderously more familiar aspect of Brooklyn's season, the Cyclones muster eight hits and draw eight walks, yes, but strikeouts an absurd 18 times.  Said another way, Brooklyn sends 41 batters to the plate, and 43.9% of them struck out ... and the organizational powers that be find this acceptable.

2019 NYPL Champion ... thank you so much! Be well and good luck at Binghamton. https://t.co/NPxbH09alq

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) September 9, 2021

 

Good Luck! On behalf of Brooklyn fans, thank you! https://t.co/uzp6qpVCxR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) September 9, 2021