Brooklyn Cyclones Lose Finale to Jersey Shore Blue Claws, Settle For Series Split

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Jersey Shore vs. Coney Island; 3-3

I - JS 7; BK 5

II - BK 3; JS 2

III - JS 3; BK 0

IV - BK 7; JS 2

V - BK 8; JS 5

VI - JS 3; BK 0

Cyclones Get Two-Hit For The Sixth Time This Season

This time I went back and checked.  Sunday's game marks the sixth time the Cyclones have been two-hit by the opposition - three times by the Hudson Valley Renegades, now three times by the Jersey Shore Blue Claws, and the second time this series.  

The Cyclones also fail to win three in a row for the first time this season.

Jersey Shore starter Dominic Pipkin faces 17 batters, allowing no runs on just two hits and no walks with five strikeouts through five innings for the win.  Three members of the bullpen complete the shutout with four innings of no-hit ball, allowing three walks and striking out seven.

Playing first base this game, Cody Bohanek wields both hits for Brooklyn.  The Cyclones strike out twelve times and draw just three walks, and bat 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Brooklyn starter Justin Lasko faces 25 batters, allows three earned runs on eight hits and no walks with six strikeouts in a losing effort.  In relief of Lasko, Mitch Ragan allows no hits and strikes out three over two innings pitched, and Eric Orze yields one hit and strikes out two in a scoreless ninth.

• BOXSCORE

More Long Balls Power Brooklyn Cyclones To 3-2 Series Lead Against Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

 Coney Island leads Jersey Shore; 3-2

I - JS 7; BK 5

II - BK 3; JS 2

III - JS 3; BK 0

IV - BK 7; JS 2

V - BK 8; JS 5

VI - SUNDAY

Back-To-Back Home Runs From Brett Baty, And Francisco Alvarez Prove Decisive

One score and twenty-four hours ago, the Brooklyn Cyclones play their first-ever game at Coney Island.  

That's it ... I just wanted to use this definition of score in a sentence.

Otherwise, Jersey Shore gets on the board in the top of the third.  Brooklyn answers with two runs in the bottom of the frame; first baseman Joe Genord doubles home Cody Bohanek, and Jose Mena doubles home Genord.

The Blue Claws score another run in the fourth, and the Cyclones again answer with two in the bottom half of the frame.  With one out and two runners on, Bohanek reaches safely on an E-6; Francisco Alvarez scores on the play.  Genord then singles home Luke Ritter from third.

Jersey Shore starter Jhordany Mezquita allows all four runs on three hits and six walks through four innings.  Brooklyn starter Connor Grey yields two earned runs on three hits and just one walk with six strikeouts through five innings pitched before departing on the winning side of a 4-2 affair.

But Jersey Shore then scores unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings, tying the game at four.  In relief of Grey, right-hander Colby Morris yields both runs on four hits and two walks in 1.2 innings pitched.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers finally breakthrough with four runs in the home eighth highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez.  It's Alvarez's second home run in as many days.  With one on and one out, Cody Bohanek singles, but an error in left field permits Ritter to score all the way from first.  Afterwhich, Bohanek scores from third on a wild pitch giving Brooklyn an 8-4 lead.

Pitching in relief of Colby Morris, Michel Otanez gives up a run in the ninth but closes out the victory for Brooklyn.  Otanez earns a well-deserved win allowing just two hits and striking out five in 2.1 innings of quality work.  A fine start by Connor Grey earns him a no-decision.  Brooklyn pitchers join for twelve combined strikeouts.

The Cyclones generate just six hits, but four are for extra bases.  They strike out just seven times, draw eight walks, and bat 3 for 8 with runners in scoring positions.  Joe Genord is the lone Baby Bum with multiple hits and runs batted in.

Brooklyn takes a 3-2 series lead, with the finale slated for Sunday afternoon at Coney Island.

Long Island Ducks Bow To Honey Hunters In First Ever Visit to Gastonia

From the desk: THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

GAME ONE

Gastonia Honey Hunters   13

Long Island Ducks             11

FINAL/BOX

Home Team Holds Their Ground Against Long Island Invaders

After losing two of three on their home turf, the Flock makes their first-ever venture to Gastonia, North Carolina, where this weekend they open a three-game series against the expansion Honey Hunters.

Not a game for the faint of heart, Long Island starter Jhoendri Herrera allows seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks in just 2.2 innings pitched.  Gastonia starter Jeff Gause fares no better, surrendering seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk in only 4.1 innings pitched.  He yields home runs to Ryan Jackson, first baseman Clint Freeman, and Johnni Turbo.  

With two runs in the top of the fourth, Long Island ties the game at seven.  However, facing Corey Howard in relief of Herrera, the Honey Hunters pull away with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.  

Before being dispatched to the showers, Jeff Gause surrenders his eighth run in the fifth.  Facing Carl Brice in relief of Gause, Ryan Jackson's sac-fly in the sixth brings the Ducks within one.  That is until Gastonia takes an 11-9 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

But you knew it wouldn't stop there.  After all, through the first six innings, Long Island scored in every inning but the second, and Gastonia scored in every inning but the fifth.  Be that as it may, Juan De La Cruz singles home Clint Freeman, and Steve Lombardozzi drives home another with a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the game at eleven.

However, Long Island's bullpen does not hold its ground.  Hector Cervenka surrenders the go-ahead run in the seventh, and Anderson DeLeon gives up an insurance run in the ninth en route to Gastonia's 13-11 win.  Cervenka takes the loss.

Clint Freeman leads Long Island with four hits, and Ryan Jackson leads Long Island with four runs batted in.

The first place Ducks still own a one-game lead over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

Brooklyn Cyclones Get Two-Hit By Jersey Shore Blue Claws

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Jersey Shore leads Coney Island; 2-1

I - JS 7; BK 5

II - BK 3; JS 2

III - JS 3; BK 0

Two hits and surrendering unearned runs are no way to go through life.

Not again..!?

What is happening to my Surf Avenue Sluggers?

Without going back and checking, I know this is at least the fourth time the Cyclones have been two-hit by the opposition this season.  Hudson Valley did it to Brooklyn three times in one series.  

On Thursday, Blue Claws starter Kevin Gowdy faces 19 batters, throwing 78 pitches with 48 (61.5%) going for strikes.  He allows no runs on no hits and two walks with five strikeouts through six innings pitched for the win.  From the bullpen, Jersey Shore's Aidan Anderson yields a double to Brett Baty in the eighth, and in the ninth, Blake Brown surrenders a double to Juan Uriarte (still playing in place of  Francisco Alvarez), and that's all.  The Cyclones strike out nine times and draw two walks.  

Brooklyn starter Jose Butto starts out effectively but is foiled in the fifth.  He surrenders three runs, but only one is earned.  Otherwise, Butto allows only four hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched in a losing effort.  Relievers Connor O'Neil and Andrew Edwards join together for 4.1 scoreless innings.

• RECORD: 14-28 (.333)
• BOXSCORE
  

Brooklyn Cyclones: Jose Mena Thrills Coney Island Crowd With Game Winning Hit In Tenth

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

GAME TWO
Jersey Shore  2

Coney Island  3

10 innings

Brooklyn Battery Powers Cyclones To Victory In Game Two  

Stellar pitching and Jose Mena's game-winning hit in the eleventh sends the Coney Island crowd home in a delighted state of mind.  Goes to show good things come to those who wait.

Jersey Shore and Brooklyn duel to a scoreless tie through five.  Toeing the rubber for the Blue Claws,  Ethan Lindow yields just four hits and strikes out five.  For the Cyclones, Alec Kisena similarly allows just four hits with six strikeouts before exiting with one out in the sixth.  While inheriting a runner at second in relief of Kisena, Eric Orze closes out the top half of the frame unscathed.  Meanwhile, Lindow continues the mission with a scoreless bottom half of the sixth.

Eric Orze retires Jersey Shore in the top of the seventh, striking out DH Herbert Iser for out number three.  For the BlueClaws, right-hander Mark Potter takes over pitching duties from Lindow, who exits having allowed just five hits, just one for extra bases.  Suddenly, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, LT Struble bunts for a base hit, then steals second base.  Next up, Antoine Duplantis lined a triple to center field, scoring Struble with the go-ahead run.  Unfortunately, Duplantis is left stood at third base.

Like an omen, third baseman Brett Baty's errant throw to first base opens the eighth.  With one out, Eric Orze issues a walk and then walks another to load the bases.  Brooklyn makes a change, and with one out into the game comes Mitch Ragan.  The Cyclones come close to executing a 5-4-3 double-play, but a safe call at first and the lead runner scoring from third knots the game at one.  

Jersey Shore right-hander Mike Adams is called upon to pitch the bottom of the eighth.  He pitches himself into, then out of potential trouble, and into the ninth inning, they go.

With one out in the top of the frame, Jose Mena (starting in place of dinged-up Francisco Alvarez) throws out an attempted steal of second.  Mitch Ragan then fans Herbert Iser for the third out.  In turn, Jersey's Andrew Brown throws a scoreless home half of the ninth, sending this contest into extra innings.

Mitch Ragan returns to the bump but does not hold.  The BlueClaws pull the old pinch-runner for the phantom runner who scores on consecutive sacrifice flies routine for a one-run advantage.

Then, facing Andrew Brown, Brooklyn loads the bases with the phantom runner, Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty HBP, and a walk to Luke Ritter.  After a mound visit, Andrew Brown walks Joe Genord tying the game at two.  Still, with no outs, Jose Mena wields a line-drive single to right field, Brett Baty scores the winning run.

Mitch Ragan earns the win.  Brooklyn evens the battle of the beaches at one.

• BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones: Jersey Shore Triumphant In First Ever Visit To Coney Island

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE ON THE BOARDWALK

GAME ONE
Jersey Shore BlueClaws  7

Brooklyn Cyclones           5

FINAL/BOX

BlueClaws Bullpen Stops Brooklyn Comeback Cold In Its Tracks

Jupiter Pluvius does the Brooklyn Cyclones no favors ...

.. and so it is, the Jersey Shore BlueClaws are triumphant in their first-ever venture into Coney Island.

Oh, the shame ...

Insofar as the game, once both starting pitchers are yanked from the mound, the whole complexion of this contest changes - as if to say, all is well, nothing more to see here; go back to your homes.

Unfortunately for Brooklyn, an early and rather large deficit proves too much to overcome.

In the second inning, Jersey Shore third baseman D.J. Stewart says hello to Kings County with a home run against starter Jaison Vilera who in the very next frame yields six more runs, all earned.  Once the dust settles, Vilera is charged with seven earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, and three walks, in a mere 2.2 innings pitched.

After wielding just two hits through the first three innings, Brooklyn finally gets on the board against Blue Claws starter Dominic Pipkin when Francisco Alvarez laces a double down the left-field line scoring Ronny Mauricio (single) and Brett Baty (double).  Joe Genord singles home Alvarez, and center fielder Adrian Hernandez plates two more, making it a 7-5 game.

Francisco Alvarez leaves the game (leg) and is replaced behind the plate by Juan Uriarte as they head into the fifth.  Perhaps asking your backstop who is built like a Mack truck to catch in 72% humidity (as I listen in from nearby Bensonhurst), leg out a double, then race from second to home was a bit much on the legs.  The announcers were sticking to a precautionary, and proactive explanation, but they did mention he was limping in the dugout.  Put that through the translator.  Otherwise, I hope it was just cramps.  Stay tuned ...

In relief of Vilera, right-hander Colby Morris puts forth his longest outing this season.  His previous high was 2.2 innings pitched.  He faces twelve batters and throws 51 pitches, with 30 (58.8%) going for strikes.  He strikes out the side in the fifth as part of three innings of no-hit, no-run ball.  All told, he strikes out four but clearly tires in the sixth inning, walking two batters before making his exit.  With two out and two runners on base, Michel Otanez enters the game and closes out the frame.

With the game in the hands of Jersey Shore's Manuel Silva and Otanez for Brooklyn, the score remains unchanged through the seventh as Brett Baty bounces into an inning-ending double play to close out the frame.  Otanez exits after 1.1 scoreless innings pitch with one hit allowed; into the game comes Allan Winans, who twirls a scoreless top eight.  Silva, in turn, tosses three scoreless innings for the Blue Claws.  He is relieved by Aneurys Zabala, who likewise closes out the home half of the eighth.

Winans goes out for the ninth and proceeds to retire Jersey Shore in order.  Zabala likewise climbs the bump for the home ninth.  First up, Joe Genord strikes out swinging.  Next, LT Struble works the count full and draws a one-out walk.  Antoine Duplantis then strikes out swinging.  Finally, like Genord and Duplantis before him, Cody Bohanek caps off an 0 for 5 night with a strikeout of the swinging variety.  It was Brooklyn's twelfth strikeout of the game, yet another double-digit demonstration.

File this under the comeback that wasn't.  Brooklyn's five-run outburst in the fifth was all there was, two runs short.  The Jersey Shore bullpen made sure of that.

• Quick Note: spell check keeps wanting to turn Aneurys Zabala's name into Aneurysm!

Brooklyn Cyclones Fail To Stave Off Late Jersey Shore Surge

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Jersey Shore leads Brooklyn; 3-2

I - BK 11; JS 

II - JS 4; BK 1

III - BK 6; JS 4

IV - JS 5; BK 4

V - JS 5; BK 5

Jersey Shore Overcomes Four Run Deficit; Walk-Off In Ninth

Cyclones Starter Alec Kisena Throws Five No-Hit Innings

Brooklyn shortstop Ronny Mauricio's first-inning three-run home run gives the Cyclones an immediate lead.  First sacker Joe Genord then connects for his sixth home run this season giving the Cyclones a 4-0 advantage through four.  

Brooklyn pitchers keep Jersey Shore off the board through the seventh.  Starter Alec Kisena allows no runs on no hits and one walk with five strikeouts through five innings pitched.  He faces 15 batters while throwing 67 pitches, with 40 (59.7%) going for strikes.  

Reliever Hunter Parsons pitches a scoreless sixth and seventh innings.  

Afterwhich, Brooklyn fortunes change.  Parsons yields two runs in the eighth on a home run by third baseman Nate Fassnacht.  Right-hander Mitch Ragan is summoned to pitch the ninth and proceeds to yield three runs on three hits, two for extra bases.  First baseman Rudy Rott delivers the game-winning hit with one out in the ninth.  Ragan records just one out in the inning.

Brooklyn's penchant for double-digit strikeouts continues with 13 more whiffs this game and just one walk in 34 at-bats.

The Cyclones will attempt to even the series in Sunday's finale.

Jersey Shore Evens Up Series With Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

WEDNESDAY

Brooklyn         1

Jersey Shore  4

FINAL

After Tuesday's four home run barrage, Jersey Shore hurlers keep the Cyclones bats relatively dormant in game two of their series at Jersey.  

The BlueClaws scored four times in the third, highlighted by a two-run home run from right fielder Jhailyn Ortiz.  All runs are charged to Brooklyn starter Justin Lasko who allows four hits, one walk, and fans three through five innings pitched.

Ronny Mauricio grounds a base hit through the left side in the sixth, delivering Gerson Molina with Brooklyn's first and only run.  The Cyclones lose by a margin of three.  Lasko takes the loss. 

Otherwise, Andrew Edwards gives up just one hit in two scoreless innings, and Michel Otanez twirls a scoreless eighth.  Third baseman Brett Baty (.352) is the lone Cyclone with multiple hits.  Ronny Mauricio now has 17 RBI through 23 games.

• GAME #23 Boxscore: 6/2/2021

Brooklyn continues holding up the five-team North Division with an 8-15 record.  They trail the first place Aberdeen Ironbirds by 8.5 games.  The game also marks only the fifth time this season they do not strike out in double-digits.

So, there's that ...

Brooklyn Cyclones Take Opening Game Against "New" Jersey Shore Rival

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BATTLE of the BEACHES

CONEY ISLAND

vs.

JERSEY SHORE

FROM

It Doesn't Matter

No Staten Island Yankees?  No problem, now we take out our frustrations on the BlueClaws!  At least at Coney Island, our seagulls have respect for us and our families.  Seagulls along the Jersey Shore are just despicable and flat-out dangerous.

The rivalry is on ... Fugheddaboudit!

GAME ONE

Cyclones   11

BlueClaws   5

FINAL

CYCLONES HIT FOUR HOME RUNS; SNAP FOUR-GAME SKID

Brooklyn jumps out to a three-run lead before Jersey gets on the board with a pair in the home second.  The Cyclones then erupt for three more runs in the fifth.

Coney Island wastes no time.  Brett Baty opens the scoring with his first home run this season.  Luke Ritter trots home when Joe Genord connects on his fifth home run.  Starter Jose Butto surrenders a two-run home run to designated hitter Vito Friscia in the bottom half of the frame.  Shortstop Ronny Mauricio triples home two runs in the fifth, and Brett Baty drives home Mauricio extending Brooklyn's lead by four.  That is until Vito Friscia connects on his second home run of the game in the sixth, reducing the Cyclones' lead by half.  Jersey essentially gives the Cyclones a run in the seventh; Zach Ashford scored.  Brett Baty drives in his third run of the night with a double in the eighth; it's his 20th run batted in this season.  Next up, touted catcher Francisco Alvarez goes deep to center field, giving the Cyclones a commanding 10-4 lead.  Jersey picked up a run in the eighth, but Brooklyn center fielder  Adrian Hernandez canceled it out with a home run in the top of the ninth for Brooklyn's eleventh and final run.  Jose Butto allows three runs on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched for the win.  

And, yes, I'm still paying attention: the Cyclones struck out 13 times!