Brooklyn Cyclones Go Down Looking; Jersey Shore Evens Series

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore; 1-1

I - BRK 1; JS 0

II - JS 3; BRK 2

Cyclones Blink First; Bullpen Outlasted by Jersey Shore

With isolated storms rumbling through Brooklyn, right-hander Jose Butto takes his turn on the slab and is opposed by Adam Leverett for Jersey Shore.  

The Blue Claws open the scoring in the second inning when second baseman Jonathan Guzman takes Jose Butto deep over the left-field wall. 

Leverett makes an early exit after having surrendered one hit with four strikeouts over two scoreless innings pitched.  Jersey southpaw Jhordany Mezquita enters the game in the third.

With two outs and a base runner at first in the fourth, lightning strikes at Coney Island necessitated a game delay.  At roughly 8:18 pm, play resumes, and Jose Butto closes out the top half of the frame.  In the bottom half, Mezquita completes his second scoreless inning in relief of Leverett. 

Jersey Shore manufactures a run in the top of the fifth for a 2-0 lead.  Meanwhile, Brooklyn remains mired with just one hit courtesy of Ronny Mauricio back in the first inning.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, reliever Hunter Parsons enters the fray.  Jose Butto exits on the losing side after yielding an otherwise effective two earned runs on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts.  But that's where his mates step in, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth to get Butto off the hook.  Blue Claws' Carlos Francisco is tasked with pitching the seventh.  With one out and one on in the eighth, Andrew Edwards enters the game to relieve Hunter Parsons.  Jersey Shore calls on Carlo Reyes to twirl the bottom of the eighth.  With two outs and a runner in scoring position, left field substitution Joe Suozzi strikes out, and into the ninth inning tied at two, they go.

• BOXSCORE

Each team musters just three hits apiece through the first eight innings.

In the top of the ninth, Andrew Edwards issues the dreaded leadoff base on balls.  With one out, manager Blankmeyer is prompted to bring in Mitch Ragan in relief of Edwards.  The move backfires.  With two outs, left fielder Keaton Greenwalt doubles home the go-ahead run.

Jersey Shore's Carlo Reyes climbs the hill for his second inning of relief.  Third baseman Cody Bohanek greets him with a leadoff single.  Unfortunately, Zach Ashford grounds into fan-crushing a 3-6-3 double-play.  Afterwhich, Joe Genord looks at strike three to end the game.

Andrew Edwards takes the loss; Carlos Reyes, the win.

Brooklyn Cyclones Fall In Tenth Inning At Hudson Valley

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Hudson Valley leads Brooklyn; 2-0

I - HVR 9; BRK 7

II - HVR 3; BRK 2

The Old Extra Inning Second Base Phantom Menace Runner Routine ...

You know what they say; it's not how you start but how you finish.

After going 0 for 5 in yesterday's return to the lineup, Ronny Mauricio opens the scoring in the first with his ninth home run this season.  Cyclone starter Jose Butto allows two runs on five hits, including a home run, and no walks with six strikeouts through five innings pitched.  However, Brooklyn takes him off the hook when Anthony Duplantis' sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth scores Zach Ashford tying the game at two.  

Renegades starter Reid Anderson likewise allows two earned runs on three hits and two walks before departing after six.

The score remains unchanged through the ninth.  Andrew Edwards tosses two scoreless innings in relief of Butto, and Josh Hejka throws a scoreless ninth, and into extra innings, they go at Hudson Valley.

In the top half of the tenth, Brooklyn goes down in order, stranding the go-ahead runner at third.

With the phantom runner on second, Hejka yields a base hit, putting runners on the corners, then intentionally walks the next batter loading the bases.  Renegade catcher Saul Torres follows with a fly ball to center deep enough to score the runner from third.

Game over.

Brooklyn loses their second straight to Hudson Valley and now trails the season series by a 4-10 margin.

Brooklyn Cyclones Split Twin Bill at Aberdeen

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Aberdeen Ironbirds lead Brooklyn Cyclones; 2-1

I - ABD 7; BKN 3

II - ABD 2; BKN 1

III - BKN 7; ABD 6

GAME ONE - Brooklyn starter Jose Butto is the hard-luck loser in a tightly contested affair at Aberdeen.  He yields two earned runs on five hits, only one for extra bases, one walk with nine strikeouts through six innings pitched.  After trading runs in the second inning, the Ironbirds score in the fourth for a 2-1 final margin of victory.  Left fielder Cody Bohanek accounts for Brooklyn's lone run in the second inning with this third home this season.  Led by starter Kevin McGee, three Aberdeen pitchers join together in limiting Brooklyn to one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts.  Right-hander Clayton McGinness earns the win in relief of McGee.  Designated hitter this game,  Francisco Alvarez accounts for two of Brooklyn's four hits, and LT Struble the other.

• FINAL: BKN 1; ABD 2
• BOXSCORE
  

⚾

GAME TWO (Make-Up 5/30/21) - The second contest is a more wild and wooly affair.  Brooklyn erupts for five runs in the third.  Aberdeen starter Kade Strowd walks the bases loaded.  With one out, Luke Ritter singles home Jose Mena.  After a pitching change, Cody Bohanek doubles home two runs.  Still, with one out and two runners in scoring position, right fielder Zach Ashford delivers home both runners.  The Cyclones add a pair in the third on Ronny Mauricio's two-run home run; his eighth this season.  Afterwhich, it becomes a matter of holding on.  Aberdeen scores two runs on four hits in the sixth and rallies in the seventh for three more runs on four hits and a walk.  With the tying run standing on second base, Mitch Ragan pitching in Conner O'Neil's relief secures the final out.  The Ironbirds fall a run short as Brooklyn gains a twin bill split.  Cyclone starter Jaison Vilera yields three earned runs on five hits and one walk through five innings pitched.  He finally earns his first victory of this season against five losses and an unsightly 9.16 ERA.  Mitch Ragan earns his second save.  Brett Baty and Ritter lead Brooklyn with two hits apiece.

• FINAL: ABD 6; BKN 7 *Cyclones home team
• RECORD: 17-31 (.354)
• BOXSCORE 

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 Get Two-Hit By Hudson Valley Renegades For Third Time In Series

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE 

Hudson Valley defeats Brooklyn; 5-1

I - HVR 3; BKN 2

II - BKN 5; HVR 3

III - HVR 1; BKN 0

IV - HVR 8; BKN 0

V - HVR 5; BKN 4

VI - HVR 5; BKN 0

Look What The Renegades Did To The Cyclones, Again!

Toeing the rubber for Brooklyn in Sunday's series finale is Jose Butto, opposed by Hudson Valley right-hander Hayden Wesneski.  A scoreless duel extends through the fifth inning with just three hits for the Renegades and one for Brooklyn off the bat of Zach Ashford in the second.

Butto exits a scoreless game after the fifth.  He faces 19 batters, throwing 82 pitches with 54 (65.8%) going for strikes while allowing just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.  Reliever Allan Winans enters in the sixth and promptly surrenders the Renegades' fourth hit of the game, which is soon erased when Renegades' catcher Josh Breaux bounces into a 5-4-3 double-play.

Hayden Wesneski surrenders only his second hit of the game in the sixth, a one-out single by Cody Bohanek.  He goes right back out and throws a scoreless seventh, striking out Antoine Duplantis and Ronny Mauricio before walking Brett Baty.  Catcher Francisco Alvarez flies to left field, ending the frame.

Allan Winans climbs the hill again for the eighth.  He walks the dreaded leadoff batter, and you know what happens next.  Shortstop Josh Smith doubles down the right-field line scoring Evan Alexander from second base.  Mitch Ragan relieves Allan Winans.  After issuing an intentional walk, Josh Breaux greets Ragan with a line-drive double to left field, scoring Smith.  Breaux then hits the next batter with a pitch to load the bases.  First baseman Eric Wagaman lofts a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ezequiel Duran from third.  Mitch Ragan finally gets James Nelson on a pop-up to second.  But the damage is done, three runs for Hudson Valley in the eighth.

Right-hander Nick Ernst relieves Hayden Wesneski in the eighth.  Wesneski exits on the winning side of a 3-0 game, allowing just two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts through seven innings pitched.  The Cyclones are set down in order in the bottom of the frame.

Brooklyn right-hander Hunter Parsons is called upon to pitch the ninth in relief of Mitch Ragan.  With a double and single, Hudson Valley immediately puts runners on the corners, and a walk loads the bases before Parsons records an out.  A fielding error by Ronny Mauricio leads to a pair of runs.  Another intentional walk reloads the bases.  The Cyclones then convert a forceout at home, get the infield fly rule invoked, and finally retire the Renegades on a flyball to center from Wagaman, but not before two more runs come home for a 5-0 lead.

Hudson Valley right-hander Zach Greene retires the Cyclones to end this Coney Island nightmare.

In this series, Hudson Valley whitewashes the Cyclones three times, and three times they limit Brooklyn to just two hits.  On Thursday, June 10, in game three of the series, Hudson Valley limits the Cyclones to just a pair of hits.  On Friday, June 11, the Cyclones are again limited to just two hits.  Sunday is no different.  Zach Ashford and Juan Uriarte are the only two Cyclones who hit safely.

• BOXSCORE: 6/13/2021

The Squirrel, Jeff McNeil, started at second base and batted lead-off.  He lofted a fly to left field in the first inning and grounded out to first base unassisted to end the third before being removed.  This marks Jeff McNeil's second-ever visit to Coney Island.  He last played for the Cyclones in 2019, going 1 for 4 with a run scored.  After spending the 2013 season at Kingsport, McNeil bypassed Brooklyn in 2014, spending the season at Savannah and Port St. Lucie.

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!

Brooklyn Cyclones Walk Off In Twelve Inning Coney Island Thriller

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley and Brooklyn Tie; 3-3

I - HVR 4; BKN 3

II - BKN 14; HVR 0

III - HVR 6; BKN 1

IV - BKN 4; HVR 1

V - HVR 5; BKN 3

VI - BKN 6; HVR 5*

*12 inn

Hayden Senger Hits Game-Winning Three Run Home Run in Twelfth Inning

Sunday's game was about as wild and wacky as any attraction ever featured at Coney Island.

Hudson Valley nursed a precarious 1-0 through the first five innings.  Renegades starter Hayden Wesneski allowed just three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts through five innings pitched.  Cyclones starter Jose Butto equals his opponent innings pitched but exits on the losing side, allowing one run on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts.  

Right fielder Zach Ashford connects on a two-run home run off Nick Ernst, pitching in relief of Wesneski.  However, Allen Winans pitching in relief of Butto unleashes a wild pitch permitting the tying run to score from third base.  The score remains unchanged through the ninth.

After a scoreless tenth inning, Hudson Valley sub-in catcher Saul Torres promptly drives home the go-ahead run against reliever Josh Hejka, albeit unearned.  In the home eleventh, Antoine Duplantis is the ghost runner at second; he advances to third on Zach Ashford's grounder to second, then scores the tying run on Ronny Mauricio's base hit into left. 

Into the twelfth inning, they go ...

With one out, Renegades left fielder Eduardo Torrealba reaches safely on second baseman LT Strubel's misplay; ghost runner Frederick Cuevas scores on the play.  Then with two outs, Ezequiel Duran triples, giving Hudson Valley a 5-3 lead.

Brett Baty opens the bottom half of the twelfth as the ghost runner on second.  Facing Hudson Valley reliever Zach Greene, Luke Ritter strikeouts, but Strubel walks, putting two runners on base.  Catcher  Hayden Senger then steps in and deposits a Zach Greene offering over the left-field wall.  The Cyclones win in dramatic comeback fashion and salvage a split of the six-game series ...

... and the crowd goes crazy!  

Fuhgeddaboudit!

Don't worry, 15 strikeouts didn't escape me.  I know they went into extra innings, but they were already into double-digits in the ninth.

Late Hudson Valley Run Spoils Brooklyn Cyclones Home Opener

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

OPENING DAY
Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Our Brooklyn Cyclones are finally home.  The 2019 New York Penn League champions returned to their Coney Island grounds for the first time in twenty months or upwards of 600-plus days; pick your poison.  They've been promoted up in levels, and now play in the newly formed High-A East Division.  Brooklyn opened the season on the road.  For the first time in the respective team's histories, the Cyclones faced-off against the Asheville Tourists and the Greenville Drive.  Because of MiLB realignment, many members of the 2019 champions are returning for a second season in Brooklyn.  Among them are position players Brett Baty, Antione Duplantis, Joe Genord,  Luke Ritter, Jose Mena, and Jake Mangum.  From the pitching ranks, returning hurlers include Dan Goggin,  Andrew Edwards, Mitch Ragan, Brian Metoyer, Josh Hejka, Alec Kisena, Jaison Vilera, and Josh Walker.

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

FROM

Old Steeplechase Grounds

Let the rivalry begin!  The Hudson Valley Renegades are by no means strangers to Brooklyn.  Pandemic aside, this season marks the 20th year of competition between the two former New York Penn League member clubs.  But make no mistake, the playing field has changed.  The New York Yankees new affiliate is now the Cyclones chief rival.  Gone are the days of Brooklyn vs. Staten Island.  This is now about Kings County versus Dutchess County.  Better said, the battle for Downstate New York is on! 

Ceremonial First Pitch Thrown By Returning Champions

Andrew Edwards to Antoine Duplantis

FIRST PITCH

Jose Butto to Hayden Senger

Old Neighbors to the North Spoil Opening Day in Brooklyn

In the first game at Coney Island since the September 2019 championship series, the Hudson Valley Renegades outlast the host Cyclones in a see-saw battle at old Steeplechase grounds. 

• FINAL SCORE: HVR 4; BKN 3
• BOXSCORE #12: Tuesday, May 18, 2021

In the top of the third, Hudson Valley starter Hayden Wesneski unleashes a wild pitch permitting catcher Hayden Senger to score from third.  The score remains unchanged until the sixth when Renegade first baseman Kyle MacDonald homers off Cyclones starter Jose Butto with a man on base.  Brooklyn reclaims the lead on Joe Genord's two-run home run in the seventh scoring Brett Baty.  But Kyle MacDonald singles off reliever Nick MacDonald in the eighth, tying the game at three.  

Facing Andrew Edwards with two outs in the top of the ninth, Hudson Valley right fielder Pablo Oliveras connects for a run-scoring double giving the Renegades a 4-3 lead.  In the bottom of the ninth right-hander, Zach Greene retires Brooklyn in order to earn the win.  Cyclones' Andrew Edwards takes the loss.

Brooklyn Cyclones Hold On For Second Straight Victory Over Greenville

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones lead Drive; 2-0

I - BKN 3; GVL 2

WEDNESDAY

Cyclones    3

GREENVILLE  2

FINAL

Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting Lead the Way

The Greenville Drive takes an immediate lead.  Cyclone starter Jose Butto walks the very first batter he faces, then unleashes a wild pitch advancing the runner to second.  After a theft of third base, third baseman  Brandon Howlett doubles home Greenville's first run.  Jose Butto and Greenville starter Brian Van Belle then trade zeroes through the fourth.  Brooklyn finally strikes back for two runs in the fifth; Juan Uriarte leads off with a triple and scores on Antoine Duplantis' single to right.  After a pitching change, Ronny Mauricio drives home Duplantis for a 3-1 lead.  However, in the bottom half of the frame, Brooklyn reliever Brian Metoyer uncorks a wild pitch permitting the base runner at third to score, making it a slim 3-2 Brooklyn advantage.  

• 5/11/2021 BOXSCORE: Game #7

Otherwise, the bullpen makes it stand.  Three Brooklyn relievers join together in limiting the Drive to one unearned run on just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over the game's final five innings.  Right-hander Mitch Ragan earns a two-inning save.  Jose Butto yields one lone run on just two hits and three walks with six strikeouts through four innings.  All told, Brooklyn pitchers limited the Drive to a pair of runs, one earned, on just four hits and five walks with eleven strikeouts; Brian Metoyer is humbly credited with the victory.  The Cyclones amass eleven hits, bat 5 for 15 with runners on base but leave nine men on base.

 

• Brooklyn climbs a game above par.
• Ronny Mauricio has eight runs batted in through seven games.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Early Losses Take Back Seat to Historical Context

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

20th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

COUNTDOWN TO OPENING DAY

10

Look What Asheville Did to Coney Island's Nine, Again!

The first few games of the season are leaving no room for debate.  The respective winners are going about their business with conviction.  After Brooklyn's decisive season-opening victory on Tuesday, Asheville has since more than doubled Coney Island's output, outscoring them by a 30-12 margin.  Two more weekend games remain against the Tourists.

Josh Walker pitched a gem to open the season, yielding no runs, no hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts.  However, over the next three games, Brooklyn starting pitchers have joined together for an unsightly 20.25 earned run average, allowing 18 runs on 17 hits and eight walks with eleven strikeouts over a mere 9.0 innings pitched.

• GM2: Jose Butto - 3.2 innings, three hits, four runs, three walks, five strikeouts.
• GM3: Oscar Rojas - 2.1 innings, five hits, seven runs, two walks, three strikeouts, two HR.
• GM4: Jason Vilera - 3.0 innings, nine hits, seven runs, three walks, three strikeouts, two HR.

But we must keep in mind these kids haven't played regularly in about twenty months.  That being said, welcome to an elevated level of play (for some, not all).

Asheville leads Cyclones; 3-1

I - BKN 8; ASH 2

II - ASH 6; BKN 1

III - ASH 11; BKN 4 

IV - ASH 13; BKN 7

On Friday, Asheville scored early and often.  They owned a 7-1 lead after two and a 10-3 lead after four.  By the sixth, they had amassed all 13 runs.  Brooklyn finally made things somewhat interesting with a run in the seventh and three in the eighth to no avail.

• SS - Ronny Mauricio: 3 for 5 with two doubles, home run, four runs batted in.
• 3B - Brett Baty: 2 for 4, two runs batted in.
• 1B - Joe Genord: 2 for 4, third Cyclone with multiple hits.
• LF - Matt Winaker: three runs scored.

Depending on your personal level of intensity, these are nonetheless historical games.  In ten more days, the Cyclones will become the first team to play professional baseball during May in Brooklyn since the Dodgers last played in 1957 at Ebbets Field.  Regardless of the outcomes (for now ...), embrace the return of Spring baseball in Brooklyn.  In the meantime, as we await their arrival back in Coney Island, historic McCormick Field is a very nice and rather appropriate place to start this new narrative.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Asheville Tourists Strike Back

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

GAME #2

Brooklyn Cyclones @ ASHEVILLE TOURISTS

McCormick Field

MAY 5, 2021

Brooklyn       1

TOURISTS    6

FINAL

Tourists Kick Cyclones in the Butto

Asheville evens the series with Brooklyn.  Four Tourist hurlers join together in limiting the visiting Cyclones to just one run on six hits and six walks with six strikeouts - ominous, I know.

Right-hander Jose Butto takes the loss upon surrendering four earned runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts (and one wild pitch) through only 3.2 innings pitched.  He faces 18 batters and throws 73 pitches, with 47 (64%) going for strikes.  Together, three members of the bullpen allow two runs on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts over the final 4.1 innings pitched.

First baseman Cody Bohanek accounts for half of Coney Island's hits, hitting 3 for 3 and drawing a walk.  Pinch-hitting in the seventh, Luke Ritter connects off Danny Cody on his first home run.  It's Brooklyn's second home run in two games.

Shortstop Ronny Mauricio goes 1 for 5 and is tagged with leaving five runners on base, but center fielder Scott Ota goes 0 for 5 and leaves six runners stranded on base.  Taking a page from their parent club's playbook, the Cyclones go 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.