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 Win Third Straight at 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

Nolan Clenney Slows Jersey Shore's Roll 

Brooklyn won a much-needed third straight game against Jersey Shore.  They got no help from the Hickory Crawdads.  Thus Hudson Valley remains a one-half game ahead of the Cyclones, who now own second place to themselves, as the Aberdeen Ironbirds bowed to Wilmington.

The Cyclones opened with a four-run second inning.  First baseman JT Schwartz homered, and 

Shervyen Newton, Matt Rudick, and the Mets' Eduardo Escobar each drove in runs.  The 'Clones scored again on an error in the third, and Jose Peroza singled home a run in the top of the fourth to give Coney Island a 6-0 lead.  Jersey Shore countered with three in the home fourth and one in the fifth.  Afterwhich, the teams traded single runs in the sixth, staking Brooklyn to a 7-5 lead.  

Shortstop Shervyen Newton continues to be the big man on campus, hitting his third home run in as many games in the eighth; it was his seventh with Brooklyn and his eleventh overall.  

Making his third start, Christian Scott escaped with a no-decision after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings.  Right-hander Franklin Sanchez gained the victory despite allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings pitched.  

The real hero of the game was Nolan Clenney, who yielded three hits and no walks with four strikeouts over the final three innings for the save.  BOXSCORE

• Rehabbing from a strained oblique, New York Mets infielder Eduardo Escobar started at shortstop and finished 2 for 4 at the plate, with one run batted in and one run scored.