Brooklyn Cyclones: Epic Fall at Troy

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

A Long and Quiet Bus Ride Home

Brooklyn Cyclones: Coney Island Nine Still Control Their Own Destiny.

Brooklyn's three-run first inning goes for nought as Cyclones starter Joshua Walker is knocked out of the box at Troy after just 1.2 innings pitched.  A throwing error by shortstop Manny Rodriguez in the first paves the way for a pair of unearned runs.  Walker winds up allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits, including a second inning home run from Tri City Valley Cats second baseman Enmanual Valdez.

Tylor Megill answers the early call to the bullpen, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings through the fifth in relief of Walker.  The Cyclones tie the game at five in the top of the sixth.  However, Megill surrenders two runs on three hits (two for extra bases) in the bottom half of the frame.  Brooklyn rallies in the eighth, but come up a run short.  The Valley Cats prevail by a 7-6 margin, and thus sweep visiting Brooklyn at Joe Bruno Stadium.

The Cyclones are back at Coney Island this evening where they'll host the Connecticut Tigers, whom most recently were swept by the Hudson Valley Renegades.  Brooklyn thus enters Thursday's series opener three full games behind the first place Renegades, with only twelve games remaining in the regular season. 

Brooklyn and Hudson Valley square off next week in the penultimate series of the season.  Till then, the Cyclones must overcome the Tigers and Vermont Lake Monsters, and hope that Troy and the Staten Island Yankees trip up the Renegades at Hudson Valley.

Both the Cyclones and Staten Island Pizza Rats are tied in the Wild Card standings, one-half game behind the Auburn Doubledays.  The outer borough rivals close out the regular season this coming Labor Day weekend at the Ballpark at St. George.

Despite suffering a sweep at Troy, opportunity is still on Brooklyn's side.  But if they are to clinch the McNamara Division or draw the Wild Card, it's up to them to seize the day.

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.