Brooklyn Cyclones: Coney is Where the Wild Things Are

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Next Stop ... Vermont, Where The Lake Monsters Are

Brooklyn Cyclones: Slug Way To Rubber Game Victory over Connecticut Tigers; Take Over Sole Possession of Wild Card.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers in front of a full house Saturday night at MCU Park clinch their rubber game against Connecticut with a second straight drubbing of the Tigers.

Edgardo Alfonzo's crew strike early and often, opening with three runs in the first, and four more runs in the third.  Connecticut scraps together a pair of runs against Cyclones starter Kyle Wilson in the fourth and one more in the fifth.  But the Brooks strike back in the home half of each frame, extending their lead to an eventual 10-3 margin of victory.

Chase Chambers and Jose Miguel Medina for a second consecutive game drive in two runs apiece. Anthony Dirocie and Manny Rodriguez each add two RBI, as well.  Six Cyclones hitters post multiple hit games as part of Brooklyn's fifteen hit attack.  For a second straight game they also post double-digit runs against the Tigers.

Kyle Wilson exits the game after five innings.  He surrenders three earned runs on six hits and a walk, and strikes out five en route to his fifth ever win as a pro.

CURIOUS CALL TO THE BULLPEN

Relievers Billy Oxford and Yeudy Colon each are curiously tasked with two innings of work.  Maintaining routine, for sake of work, or out of pure desperation, only Coach Alfonzo knows why other members of the pen failed to get the ball in that situation.  Now down to their last nine games and final three series of the regular season, the Cyclones need all hands on deck.  That being said, is there no other reliever in need of work, fine tuning, or perhaps even a positive outing aimed at boosting confidence?  With a seven run lead, planning ahead is a worthwhile gamble not just in this instance, but also as it pertains to setting up the bullpen for the upcoming series at Vermont, and the looming Hudson Valley clash to follow.

WHERE THE WILD TEAMS ARE

Up in Dutchess County the Tri City Valley Cats and host Hudson Valley Renegades battled into extra innings.  The Valley Cats two runs in the top of the tenth was negated when the Renegades rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the frame for a 7-6 victory.  Thus the Cyclones end the night 2.5 games behind the McNamara Division leading Renegades, but presently own sole possession of the Wild Card.  Their victory over the Tigers coupled with Staten Island's loss against Aberdeen gives the Cyclones a one game lead over the Pizza Rats, but only a half-game lead over the Auburn Doubledays, whom on Saturday whitewash State College.  The Cyclones next opponent is Vermont, whom on Saturday defeat Lowell to stay just 3.5 games back of Brooklyn.  In turn, the fading Spinners fall yet another notch further down the Wild Card standings.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Christian James Stares Down Connecticut Tigers

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Calling on All Kings County's Horses

TONIGHT

Connecticut Tigers

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island Grounds

Brooklyn Cyclones: Christian James Pitches Gem; Keeps Brooks Within Striking Distance of Hudson Valley; Tied With Staten Island for Wild Card.

Brooklyn, at a most crucial time, slams the brakes on their ill-timed skid with a convincing, and very necessary 12-1 drubbing of the Connecticut Tigers Friday night at Coney Island.  The Cyclones, on the heels of getting swept at Troy, extend their losing streak to four after falling 7-2 in Thursday's series opener against the Tigers.

On Friday, all-star Ross Adolph led the offensive barrage going 3 for 4 with a walk, two triples, three RBI, and three runs scored.  Chase Chambers drove in two runs, while Jose Miguel Medina homered and likewise drove in a pair.

Starter Christian James improves to 4-1 with eight innings of scoreless, two-hit, baseball, issuing no walks, and fanning four.  His 1.76 ERA ranks second in the NYPL behind team mate Jaison Vilera.  James faced 26 Connecticut batters, and threw 96 pitches with 64 (65%) going for strikes.

The rubber game is slated for Saturday night at Coney Island.

Brooklyn is down to their final ten games of the regular season.  They enter this evening's action three games back of the Hudson Valley Renegades.  Meanwhile, the Wild Card is up for grabs.  The Cyclones and Pizza Rats are presently tied for the lead, with five other teams hot on their tails.

On Monday, the Cyclones open a series at Vermont, whom are a mere 3.5 games back of the Wild Card.  Brooklyn will then host first place Hudson Valley in the penultimate series of the season which could very well decide this year's McNamara Division title.  The Renegades are the defending division, and NYPL champions.  After which, the Cyclones end the regular season with a home and home against Staten Island.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Chance to Close Gap Swept Away

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Renegades Sweep Series 3-0

I - HVR 6; BKC 5

II - HVR 6; BKC 5

III - HVR 5; BKC 4

Brooklyn Cyclones fall to 5.5 game behind first place Husdon Valley Renegades

Brooklyn Cyclones: Look What The Renegades Did to Coney Island, Again!

Like an old Adam West Batman episode: Ooof!  POW!  Boom!  The Brooklyn Cyclones with three victories against Hudson Valley could have landed square on the Renegades door step.  Instead they are swept up, dumped in their team basket, and pushed back down the river three games further out of first place than when they first arrived at Dutchess County.

GAME ONE
Cyclones     5
Renegades  6

Brooklyn's standout starter Jaison Vilera suffers perhaps his worst outing of the season, surrendering four earned runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out seven.  However, the Cyclones take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth.  After retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the frame, Brooklyn reliever Yeudy Colon walks his next batter.  Two hits later its a one run game.  With runners on on second and third, Colon balks home the winning run.  Cyclones fall 5.5 back of the Renegades.

GAME TWO
Cyclones     5 
Renegades  6

The Cyclones blow a 3-0 first inning lead when Somerset ties the game with three of their own in the third.  Nick Meyer's sac-fly in the top of the fourth plated center fielder Anthony Dirocie from third for a 4-3 Ducks lead.  Hudson Valley strikes back in the home seventh when shortstop Ford Proctor triples home the tying run.  But Brooklyn regains the lead in the top half of the eighth on Jose Miguel Medina's RBI double.  Unfortunately, Cyclones reliever Ryley Gilliam does not secure it, walking the lead-off batter, then yielding a two run home run to game hero Ford Proctor.

GAME THREE
Cyclones     4
Renegades  5

In a slightly different narrative, the Cyclones and Renegades remain scoreless through the first three  frames.  Brooklyn then jumps out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Anthony Dirocie's RBI triple, and a subsequent E-3 allowing Dirocie to score.  But their advantage didn't last long at all.  Hudson Valley work over Cyclones starter Joshua Walker for four runs on three hits and a pair of walks in seizing a 4-2 lead.  This time it is Brooklyn who mount a ninth inning comeback and tie the game with two runs on three straight hits, and E-8, and the key sac fly by first baseman Brian Sharpe.  With one out in the home ninth, Brooklyn reliever Ronald Sanchez surrenders a one-out single to Adrian Rondon, who advances to second on a wild pitch.  Hudson Valley center fielder Bryce Browne singles up the middle, game over.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Thor Drops Hammer on Pizza Rats

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

VERRAZZANO NARROWS 

SHOWDOWN

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Season Series Tied 4-4

SUNDAY

Yankees    1

Cyclones   2

FINAL

Brooklyn Cyclones: Thor Giveth, and Thor Taketh Away.

We all know New York City rodents aren't skittish around people anymore.  But those Pizza Rats from Staten Island may have come off just a little too damn cocky during their most recent visit to Coney Island.

I'm sure Noah Syndergaard isn't too pleased with himself, either.

Making a rehab assignment start for the Cyclones, Syndergaard issues a walk to the first batter of the game, who then disrespectfully steals second base.  With one out, a solid base hit by Staten Island backstop Josh Breaux puts runners on the corners.  Syndergaard fans the next batter, but then unleashes a wild pitch allowing Pizza Rat Alex Junior to scurry home.

After which, Thor drops his hammer.  He allows the Rats just one more hit in the fourth, and fans six through his final four innings of work.  All told, Syndergaard pitches five innings, allows one earned run on just two hits, walks one, and strikes out seven.  He faces nineteen Pizza Rats, throwing 71 pitches with 46 (65%) going for strikes.

It's a good thing too, because the Cyclones were limited to a pair of runs on just five hits by Staten Island starter Roansy Contreras and reliever Shawn Semple.

JOSE MIGUEL MEDINA IS BIG MAN ON CAMPUSS

BUT SMALL BALL WINS THE DAY

• Brooklyn ties the game at one in the third.  Third baseman Brian Sharp draws a lead-off walk, and is advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Manny Rodriguez.  Sharp then scores on Jose Miguel Medina's double to left.

The game remains locked at one through the seventh.

• Catcher Nick Meyer leads off the bottom of the eighth with a single back up the middle.  Brian Sharp's sacrifice bunt successfully moves Meyer to second base.  After Manny Rodriguez looks at strike three, Jose Miguel Medina singles home Meyer with the go-ahead run.

Reliever Kevin Smith faces ten batters pitching the final three innings for Brooklyn.  He earns his second victory of the season after limiting Staten Island to no walks, just one hit, and striking out four.

With only their second victory in their last seven games, the Cyclones snap a five game losing streak, and avoid falling below par, instead improving to 12-11 on the season.  Although they remain three games back of the Hudson Valley Renegades, Brooklyn slides back into second place past Aberdeen.

Brooklyn also evens the season series against Staten Island at four games apiece.

The Staten Island Yankee Baby Bomber Pizza Rats Baseball Club fall to 10-13 on the season.

The teams head back to Richmond County and the St. George Rat Den for Monday's series finale.