From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS
SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE
NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF
I - BKN 8; ABD 1
Luis Moreno Hurls a Gem; Surf Avenue Sluggers Club Three Home Runs
For the first time in their respective histories, former New York-Penn League rivals, the Aberdeen Ironbirds, and Brooklyn Cyclones, met in the playoffs as members clubs of the (High-A) South Atlantic League.
Facing right-hander
Luis Moreno, Aberdeen right fielder
Dylan Beavers led off the game with a triple to right field. Moreno struck out the next two batters swinging, and the third batter was caught looking.
Second baseman
Jose Peroza singled home the game's first run with two outs in the bottom half of the frame.
Ironbird center fielder
Jud Fabian tied the game in the visitor's second with a home run to left. But designated hitter
Joe Suozzi promptly answered with a solo shot to end the frame. Right fielder
Stanley Consuegra then singled home a run in the third for a 3-1 Brooklyn lead.
The rest of the score was underwritten by the Surf Avenue insurance company.
Left fielder
Matt Rudick led off the fifth inning with a home run to right, and with one out and
Alex Ramirez on base,
Jose Peroza homered over the left/center field wall. For good measure, Joe Suozzi tripled home a pair of runs in the eighth for an 8-1 margin of victory.
- Center fielder Alex Ramirez finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and the Cyclones got two-out RBI from Consuegra, Suozzi, and Peroza.
Making his most crucial professional start to date, Luis Moreno hurled a gem, allowing the lone run on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings for the win. He faced 23 batters and threw 90 pitches, with 59 (65.5%) going for strikes.
Right-hander
Nolan Clenney yielded no hits over two scoreless innings, and
Daison Acosta retired the Ironbirds to close the ninth.
- After making nine appearances with St. Lucie, Luis Moreno posted a 2.92 ERA and 1.091 WHiP in 77.0 innings with Brooklyn.