Brooklyn Cyclones: The Long Bus Ride Home; Coney Island Nine Lose

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES ~ WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR
 

Another Season Comes To A Close.

Hudson Valley Eliminates The Kids of Summer.

 

 

GAME THREE FINAL:

Brooklyn          0

HudsonValley  2

 

Hudson Valley Renegades Wins Series 2-1

 

 

GAME THREE REVIEW

GAME TWO RECAP

GAME ONE RECAP

GAME ONE; HANSEL ROBLES PITCHES MASTERPIECE

Just like that - the season is over.  Summertime in Coney Island is done.  The Brooklyn Cyclones will not compete for a championship.  Their 2012 quest for glory has unceremoniously ended.  Instead they'll assemble together one last time to clean out their lockers, and join with the rest of the Borough in singing the familiar local refrain - Wait Till Next Year.  But first, a long quiet bus ride home.


Hudson Valley's Jeff Ames and Taylor Guerrieri, and the Renegades bullpen proved themselves to be every bit the equal to Brooklyn's league leading pitching staff.  In Monday's post I pointed out how astonishing Taylor Guerrieri's season numbers were.  I also speculated Game Three would turn into an old fashioned pitchers duel.  With Brooklyn's Luis Cessa opposing Hudson Valley, I  apparently  predicted correctly, but certainly not proudly.  What I hadn't anticipated was the manner in which the Cyclones would get eliminated.


In front of the home crowd in Dutchess Stadium, Taylor Gerrieri and Hudson Valley's bullpen; namely Brandon Henderson; combined to pitch a one-hit shutout over the Brooklyn Cyclones in Game Three.  The Hudson Valley Renegades defeated Brooklyn 2-0, take the semi final series two games to one,  and now advance to the New York Penn League championship round.


It was also discussed in Monday's post how Taylor Guerrieri was only reliable for three to five innings tops.  He held true to form.  However, in a rare episode he was wild.  He walked five Cyclones and was relieved after the fourth inning.  But just like they did in Sunday's game, Hudson Valley's bullpen kept the Cyclones bats silent.


After Brooklyn's Hansel Robles pitched a complete game gem in the series opener, Hudson Valley's overall pitching proved a little better in a short series.  In Game Two's match-up, Jeff Ames bested Luis Mateo over six innings.  Hudson Valley then teed off on Brooklyn's bullpen.  Hudson Valley's relief corp meanwhile, shut the Cyclones down over three innings with no hit, no run, appearances by Dylan Floro and Alex Moshier.


In Game Three, Brandon Henderson put forth a superlative effort in relief of Taylor Guerrieri.  In 4.1 innings pitched, he allowed no runs, no hits, issued no walks, and struck out six batters.  Ryan Garton finished the game for the Renegades with a (0.2 inning) scoreless appearance.


That means in the last two games, Hudson Valley relief pitchers combined to pitch eight innings, surrender no runs, allow no hits, and strikeout eight.  There's your decisive factor in the series.


In the end, Earl Weaver type baseball..., lost.  I'll explain what I mean by that, and deal deeper into  the Brooklyn Cyclones 2012 season tomorrow.





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Hudson Valley Showdown; Game Three

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Potential Pitchers Duel Awaits Game Three.  Coney Island One Win Away From Fifth Championship Round Appearance.
 

GAME ONE; HANSEL ROBLES PITCHES MASTERPIECE

GAME ONE RECAP

GAME TWO RECAP

After taking the opening game of their semi final series in Coney Island, the Cyclones took their lumps up in Dutchess Stadium against the Renegades in Game Two.  The teams will play Monday Night Baseball to see who participates in this year's NYPL championship.  Monday's winner will play the victor between the Tri City Valley Cats and Auburn Doubledays.


Hudson Valley finds themselves a game away from the title round after not even making the playoffs since the 1999 season.  In championship play, Brooklyn knows Auburn and the Valley Cats all too well.  The Cyclones dropped championship series to both teams.  Most recently in 2010, the Tri City Valley Cats ended Brooklyn's championship bid.  In 2007, Auburn did the same.  Prior to that, Williamsport put Brooklyn's 2003 championship hopes to bed as well.  With a win Monday evening over the Renegades, Brooklyn will earn a fourth opportunity to win their second title.


The two pitching aces have done their jobs.  Hansel Robles dialed up a performance for the ages Friday evening in Coney Island.  And Sunday evening, Hudson Valley's ace, Jeff Ames reciprocated with a solid effort in Wappingers Falls.  Now for both teams, it is time for the next guy to step up.  Without getting cocky, in the Cyclones case, it's a matter of pick your poison.


Rainy Lara last pitched on September 2nd.  He was 8-3 this season and posted a 2.91 ERA.  Luis Cessa last pitched on September 3rd.  He posted a 5-4 record with a 2.49 ERA.  Gabriel Ynoa tossed the most recent game of Monday's potential starters.  He last pitched on September 4th.  Ynoa was 5-2, with a 2.23 ERA.  All three are well rested.


The Renegades are reportedly going with Taylor Guerrieri in Game Three.  The also have Matthew Spahn and Sean Bierman in reserve.  In twelve starts, Taylor Gerrieri's stats are rather astonishing. Although, you would never know based on his win/loss record.  His record was 1-2 this season.  But in twelve starts and fifty-two innings pitched, he posted a 1.04 ERA, and an 0.77 WHiP.  He limited opposing batters to thirty one hits and issued a mere five walks all season.  He surrendered no home runs, and struck out forty-five batters.


If in fact Taylor Guerrieri makes the start, one of three available Brooklyn pitchers almost assures a classic pitcher's duel for Game Three.  Taylor however, has only averaged three to five innings per start.  All five Brooklyn starting pitchers have been instructed in the art of length this season.  They routinely have pitched into sixth innings of games.  Game Three may very well rest in the hands of the bullpens.  So what else is new?


Brandon Nimmo has been quiet this series.  In Game One, he had a single in four trips to the plate.  He scored one run and drew one walk.  In Game Two, he had one hit in four at bats, and nothing more.  In two games, both teams have an equal amount of hits; sixteen.  But Hudson Valley has now outscored Brooklyn eight runs to five.

TONIGHT

New York Penn League ~ Division Semi Finals

GAME THREE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES
vs.

Hudson Valley Renegades

FROM
Dutchess Stadium

New York

UPDATED 9/10/12:
GAME THREE - Pitching Match-Up; Luis Cessa vs. Taylor Guerrieri





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Defeat Spinners; Take Lead In Wild Card Race

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

 

WILD CARD STANDINGS:

Brooklyn.....45-29         *

Batavia.......44-30; 1 GB

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Back In Front With Two Games Left In Regular Season.  Seaside Sluggers Magic Number = Two.

Batavia finally lost for the first time in ten games.  Potentially, the Cyclones finally got the break they have been looking for.  In early Labor Day action, the Muckdogs lost to the Auburn Doubledays by a 5-3 score.  As a result, Auburn retakes a one game lead in the Pickney Division over Batavia.  That left the 'Dogs waiting around for the late game final out of Brooklyn.


Would the Cyclones take advantage of Monday's early development?  Under the threat of rain, the game in Coney Island started on time.  On the mound, Luis Cessa started for Brooklyn against Lowell's Francellis Montas.


Cyclones fans were hoping the first inning was not an omen of things to come.  Francellis Montas struck out the side, with all three batters swinging at strike three.  Back to back singles to lead off the second inning however, quickly calmed those fears.  The Brooks couldn't take advantage though.  Both base runners were stranded.


Each team scored in the fourth inning.  An RBI single by Jake Davies put Lowell on the board.  In the bottom half of the inning, Francellis Montas was pulled from the game after surrendering a single to Kevin Plawecki, and issuing a walk to Nelfi Zapata.  With two outs, the Spinners called on Francisco Tavares for relief.  A single by Juan Carlos Gamboa scored Plawecki from third to tie the game at one.


Brooklyn took a 2-1 lead in the fifth.  Kevin Plawecki's third hit of the game knocked in Dimas Ponce with the go ahead run.


Through eight innings, the Cyclones accumulated ten hits against Lowell pitching.  However, they only had the two runs to show for it.  That was okay, because Brooklyn's hurler, Luis Cessa, was still cruising late in the game.  He retired the side in order in the first, third, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings.  He allowed four scattered hits, and surrendered the one run back in the fourth.  Luis issued one walk and struck out one to that point


In the bottom of the eighth, Brooklyn increased their lead.  They loaded the bases with one out.  Brandon Nimmo's grounder forced the lead runner at home for out number two.  Lowell's Francisco Tavares, who was in his fourth inning of relief, then walked Dimas Ponce to force in Brooklyn's third run.  Phillip Evans followed, and delivered another insurance run with a single.


As he pitched so efficiently throughout the game, Coach Donnelly sent Luis Cessa out for the ninth inning.  The first batter he faced doubled.  After striking out his second batter of the game, and a 5-3 put out, a single set up a first and third situation.  That's when Coach Donnelly ascended from the dugout to go remove his starting pitcher.  In relief, Tyler Vanderheiden secured the last out of the game to preserve Brooklyn's 4-1 victory.


Vanderheiden earned his twelfth save of the season.  After a brilliant performance, Luis Cessa improved his won/loss record to 5-4, and lowered his ERA to a 2.49 mark.  The heart of Brooklyn's line-up; Phillip Evans, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki; combined on nine hits in fourteen at-bats.


The Brooklyn Cyclones lead the Wild Card race again by one full game.  Two more remain on the schedule.  Their magic number is two.  Should Brooklyn defeat Lowell Tuesday evening, coupled with another Muckdogs loss, the Cyclones would clinch the Wild Card.  Otherwise, this race may very well get decided on the last day of the regular season.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Possible Round One Match-Up - Game Two Versus Tri City Tonight

From the home of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Down to the Final Fifteen Games of the Regular Season, the Coney Island Nine Are Now Four Games Out of First Place.


Heading into tonight's action, the Brooklyn Cyclones are four games behind the Hudson Valley Renegades in the McNamara Division race.  And for the moment, they hold a four game lead over the Batavia Muckdogs in the Wild Card standings.  Fifteen games remain in the regular season.  And nothing is certain.


Tuesday night in Coney Island, the Surf Avenue Sluggers kicked-off a home stand, but failed to help their cause by dropping the first game against the League's top team, the Tri City Valley Cats.  The  circuit's best club sports a 44-17 record, and lead the Stedler Division by 15.5 games over the Connecticut Tigers.  For the Brooklyn Cyclones (37-24), this series is shaping up as a playoff preview should they advance into the post-season via the Wild Card.


Brooklyn starter, Rainy Lara, was looking to improve upon his league best seven wins.  But Tri City's starter, Juri Perez, was better.  Rainy was solid through the first four innings.  In the fifth however, the Valley Cats went to work against one of the League's top starters.  Of course, there was a lead-off walk to start things off.  Rainy then hit the second batter with a pitch.  A walk issued to the third batter loaded the bases.  The next batter, Austin Elkins, was ejected mid at-bat for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate ump.  Pinch-hitting, Emilio King struck out.  Then an RBI single plated two runs.  Another single and a sac-fly then made the score 4-2 after four and a half innings of play.


Brooklyn scored their two runs back in the third inning.  After Juan Carlos Gamboa led off the inning with a double, Nelfi Zapata crushed his second home run of the season, which at the time, gave the Cyclones a 2-0 lead.


The Valley Cats picked up one more run in the sixth, and the game ended in a 5-2 final.  Tri City's Juri Perez pitched six full innings, allowing seven hits, and two earned runs.  He walked one and struck out five.  Out of the bullpen, Jeremiah Meiners took care of Brooklyn over the next three innings.  He allowed just one hit, and struck out three batters to earn his second save of the season.  Rainy Lara suffered loss number two.


In game two tonight in Coney Island, Brooklyn's Luis Cessa will start for Brooklyn, and will face Tri City's Lance Day.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Lose Two Straight to Lowell Spinners

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES ~ Series Wrap-Up; After Brooks Win Series Opener, Lowell Responds With Dominant Pitching to Take Games Two and Three.


The Lowell Spinners gave visiting Brooklyn a taste of their own pitching medicine.  After Cyclones' pitchers put a snag in the Spinners with a no run, four hit effort in Tuesday night's series opener, Lowell pitchers responded in kind over the next two games, and spun Cyclones' hitters dizzy during Thursday night's series finale.  The end result; Lowell wins the series 2-1 over Brooklyn.


Wednesday evening, Brandon Nimmo missed his third consecutive game due to an ailing shoulder.  In the game, all the Coney Island nine could muster were four hits, and one late run in the seventh.  The line-up was hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position.  Third baseman Jeff Reynolds drove in the only Cyclones run of the night.


Luis Mateo was making his ninth start for Brooklyn.  In the second inning, he didn't exactly help his own cause though.  En route to a 2-0 deficit, Mateo hit the lead-off batter with a pitch and let the following batter reach on a single.  Mateo's throwing error on the play allowed both runners to score.  In the sixth inning, a two-RBI triple put Lowell ahead by a 4-0 score.


Then for Brooklyn, in the seventh inning, two consecutive errors by Lowell set-up Jeff Reynold's sac-fly RBI, making it a 4-1 game, and final.


In Thursday night's series finale, Lowell did it again.  Strong pitching kept Brooklyn's bats silent in the Massachusetts night.  Three Spinners pitchers combined to limit the Cyclones to three hits and one run.  Luis Cessa suffered his third loss of the season, evening his record to 3-3 on the season.  He pitched six full innings , and allowed Lowell seven hits and three earned runs.  Two Lowell home runs against Cessa were enough to send Brooklyn to their second straight defeat.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Vermont Lake Monsters

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES
From,

Surf Avenue, Coney Island

Brooklyn

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brandon Nimmo Thriving in Lead-Off Spot

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Coney Island Nine Take Opening Game Versus Auburn Doubledays.  Remain Two Games Behind Hudson Valley Renegades.  Johan Santana Scheduled to Make Rehab Appearance Sunday.

The Cyclones started this home stand by taking two of three games from the Connecticut Tigers.  They took the rubber game Friday evening led by the pitching of starter Luis Cessa, and relievers, Matthew Bowman, and John Mincone.  The three combined on nine innings, and allowed two hits all game.  Luis Cessa surrendered those two hits.  He pitched five full, walked none and struck out four before leaving the game on the winning side of a 3-0 lead.  Matthew Bowman then pitched three masterful innings in relief, allowing no hits, issuing no walks, while striking out three batters.  John Mincone tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.


The Cyclones scored all their three runs in the first inning.  Brandon Nimmo and Phillip Evans led off with back to back doubles to open the scoring.  Then with two outs, Stefan Sabol smashed his third home run of the season to give Brooklyn their 3-0 lead, and eventual final.


On Saturday, Brooklyn welcomed the Auburn Doubledays to the park at Coney Island and continued right along with their strong pitching.  Hansel Robles was the night's starter and gained his third victory of the season against just one loss.  For seven full innings, Hansel pitched three hit baseball, while allowing Auburn just one unearned run set up by a Dimas Ponce error in the sixth inning.  Otherwise, Brooklyn's starting pitcher was superb in issuing no walks and striking out eight batters.


Paul Sewald pitched the eighth inning and got touched for two hits, but nothing more.  Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the ninth inning to notch his eighth save of the season.


Brooklyn scored a run in the first, and the game stayed that way through the next four innings.  Brandon Nimmo led off Brooklyn's first at-bat with a double, and later came around to score on a passed ball, to give Coney Island a 1-0 lead.


Auburn tied the game in the sixth, but after a good stretch, Brooklyn came back with three runs in the seventh inning.  After Dimas Ponce led off the inning with a double, three straight walks gave the Cyclones a 2-1 lead.  With the bases still loaded and one out, Brandon Nimmo scored on a sac-fly off the bat of Kevin Plawecki.  Then Alexander Sanchez singled to drive in the third run of the inning.


And that's how this one ended, with a 4-1 final score.


Brandon Nimmo continues to excel in the lead-off spot.  In Saturday's game, he was 2 for 4, with two doubles, and two runs scored.  He now has five hits in eleven at-bats during the home stand.  And since being inserted into the lead-off spot ten games ago, Brandon Nimmo is seventeen of forty-one; good for a .415 batting average.  He has now elevated his season batting average to a .271 mark.  That's significant considering on July 25th, after game one of this last ten game stretch, he took a .229 batting average home with him.


The Cyclones (28-17) are 7-3 in their last ten games.  But so is Hudson Valley.  The first place Renegades (30-16) continue to set the pace while Brooklyn remains two games behind in the McNamara Division standings.


On Sunday, Johan Santana is scheduled to make a short rehab appearance in Coney Island for the Cyclones, as he works towards taking the mound again for the Mets by next Thursday or Friday.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Heading To Ohio One Game Out of First Place

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

N.Y. Daily News - Brooklyn Cyclones Hand Out ~ 2001 Inaugural Season

Brooklyn Wins Series 2-1

I - BKN 3; BAT 1

II - BKN 7; BAT 1

III - BAT 2; BKN 0

Recaps:  Games One and Two

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Batavia Muckdogs Bite Back In Series Finale.

Ohio, Here We Come!

Plus ~ McNamara Division Friday Evening Wrap-Up

Brooklyn caught an early afternoon break.  The Tri Citi Valley Cats took the first game of a double-header against Hudson Valley, allowing the Cyclones to gain a half-game on the first place Renegades before ever stepping on the field.  And so the Brooks entered Friday night's game against Batavia one game behind the Renegades for the McNamara Division lead.  Hudson Valley still had an evening game to play however.


That said, make that three consecutive games this series in which the Batavia Muckdogs jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead over the Cyclones.  They scored off Brooklyn starter, Luis Cessa, with a lead-off single by Alex Mejia, and a one out RBI double by Garret Wittels.  On the mound starting for Batavia was Joe Cuda.  Over the first four innings, he retired the Cyclones in order.  After the first inning, Luis Cessa matched zeroes with him.


Brooklyn was still looking for their first hit as the teams entered the fifth inning.  Finally, they got it.  A lead-off double by Alexander Sanchez broke the seal.  Or, so it seemed.  Joe Cuba struck out the next three batters to turn back Brooklyn, and raised his total to seven strikeouts for the game.  Luis Cessa then pitched a scoreless bottom half of the fifth to keep the game a 1-0 affair.


In the sixth inning, Batavia made a pitching change and summoned Corey Baker to relieve Joe Cuda. Dimas Ponce then led off with a single.  But Corey Baker retired the next three Brooklyn batters.  Luis Cessa's night was also finished after five innings although he left on the losing side.  Coach Donnelly called on Matthew Bowman to pitch the sixth.  After a lead-off single and a stolen base by Patrick Wisdom, Bowman retired the next three Muckdogs.  Both relievers went on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning as well.  Three strikeout by Corey Baker brought Batavia's total to ten for the game.  And to this point, Brooklyn's Luis Cessa had issued the only walk of the game.


With eight hits in the game, the Batavia Muckdogs were coming up short with runners on base.  Through the first seven frames, they were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.  While Brooklyn, still behind by a run, was being limited to just two hits.  The game pressed on and into the eighth inning they went.


After Corey Baker secured the first out in Brooklyn's half of the eighth, Batavia brought Ryan Copeland into the game.  The Cyclones had a runner on second with one out after Juan Carlos Gamboa singled, and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Then with runners on first and second with two outs, up came Brandon Nimmo, who struck out swinging, and was thrown out at first base (K, 2-3) to complete the play.  Gamboa's hit was only Brooklyn's third of the game.


Tyler Vanderheiden took over pitching duties from Matthew Bowman in the home half of the eighth.  With one out, Patrick Wisdom singled.  A batter later, David Washington drove Wisdom home with a clutch, two out double, to give Batavia a 2-0 lead.


To close out the game for Batavia, the Muckdogs called upon Yunier Castillo to pitch the ninth inning.  After issuing a lead-off walk to Phillip Evans, Castillo set down the next three Cyclones in order, striking out Stefan Sabol swinging to end the game.


Although he pitched well, Luis Cessa was tabbed with the loss.  He now has a 2-2 record this season, but lowered his ERA to a 2.78 mark.  Batavia's Joe Cuda, who struck out seven while issuing no walks, gets credit for his fourth win of the season without a loss.  Yunier Castillo notched save number five.


Opportunity Lost:  With tonight's loss, the Cyclones gave back the half-game Hudson Valley afforded them earlier in the day.  That put Brooklyn 1.5 games behind the Renegades again even before Hudson Valley's second game went final.  But as luck would have it, the Tri Citi Valley Cats shut out the Renegades 7-0, to sweep their double-header.  Worth noting about the second game, Tri Citi's starting pitcher, Brian Holmes, took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Hudson Valley's center fielder, Joey Rickard, broke it up with a clean lead-off single to right field.  Brian Holmes, like Batavia's starting pitcher, Joey Cuda, won his fourth game of the season, against one loss.  He finished out the game pitching a one-hit, complete game shutout.  And with Hudson Valley's game two loss, and suffering a sweep at the hands of the Valley Cats, Brooklyn ends the night only one game behind the Renegades who lead the McNamara Division.


What you should know about New York Penn League rules however, is that each game of a double-header will be seven innings in length, not nine.  That's A-ball folks.


The Cyclones will now continue along with their great western road trip.  Get ready Ohio!  Here comes Brooklyn.  The Seaside Sluggers will play the Mahoning Valley Scrappers over the weekend before returning back home to Coney Island.  The Staten Island Yankees concluded a series against the Scrappers tonight.  They dropped the first game of a double-header 5-3, but had game two cancelled due to weather.  Let's hope the skies clear up in time for Brooklyn's arrival.


Let's Go Cyclones!






Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Staten Island Quiets Brooklyn; Game Four Today

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Battle of the Boroughs - II

BK 1; S.I. 0

S.I. 4; BK 2

S.I. 3; BK 1

Game Four Today in Coney Island

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Brooks Drop Second Straight to the Richmond Count Bombers.



Richmond County packed the house and watched their Baby Bombers take a second straight game from the visiting Cyclones Satrurday night in the Ballpark at St. George, and now lead this installment of the Battle of the Boroughs two games to one.  The Brooks will now look to gain a series split in Game Four on Sunday in Coney Island.

After Bombers' starting pitcher Evan Rutckyj allowed Brooklyn one run in the third, he clamped down on them for the rest of his seven innings pitched.  The Cyclones' lone run came on a home run by DH Jeffery Glenn.  Otherwise, Rutckyj allowed three scattered hits, walked one, and struck out six.  Reliever James Pazos took care of Brooklyn over the last two innings.  He allowed one hit, and struck out one batter for his second save of the season.

Luis Cessa made his sixth start for the Cyclones.  He was just fine through five innings, somewhat matching Staten Island's starter.  Luis surrendered but three hits and one earned run.  He walked walked two and struck out four before giving way to the bullpen in a 1-1 game.  Matthew Bowman was first out of the Brooklyn pen, and got roughed up by the Yanks.  He allowed five hits in two innings pitched.  He surrendered the go-ahead run, an additional insurance run in the sixth, and took the loss.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Strengthen Hold on First Against Renegades

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Eleventh Inning Win Opens Up Two Game Lead Over Hudson Valley in McNamara Division.


In the clash for the top spot of the McNamara Division, visiting Brooklyn shut out the Renegades 3-0 in their place on Sunday to open a one game lead in the standings.  Starter Luis Mateo pitched six strong innings to pick up his third win against no loses.  He surrendered a mere three hits, walked none, and struck out six.  David Wynn followed out of the bullpen to pitch the next two frames.  He struck out three before giving way to Tyler Vanderheiden, who picked up his fourth save of the season.

Cole Frenzel launched his first home run of the season leading off the second inning.  And the Brooks picked up two more runs on an E-5 in the third inning, capping off the night's scoring.

In Monday night's game at the Ballpark at Coney Island, the Cyclones led 1-0 after three innings thanks to a Eudy Pina bomb to center field.  But they promptly surrendered two runs in Hudson Valley's next at-bat.  In the home fourth, RBI by Jayce Boyd and Brandon Nimmo put Brooklyn back on top by a 3-2 score.  Then in the fifth, the Brooks picked up an insurance run on Stefan Sabol's RBI single.

Cyclones' starter Luis Cessa, pitched 4.0 innings.  He gave up three hits and walked three, while allowing two earned runs.

The Hudson Valley Renegades rallied late against Cyclones' reliever Beck Wheeler.  With the 'Clones ahead 4-2, Hudson Valley plated three runs on a Ryan Dunn bases clearing double, giving the Renegades a 5-4 lead in the seventh.  They would add an insurance run in the eighth against Juan Urbina.

In the eighth inning, the Cyclones got one back.  Jayce Boyd led off with a triple to straight away center field, and soon scored to make it a 5-6 game heading into the ninth.

Reliever John Mincone retired the Renegades in order in the top half of the ninth.  Then for last licks, Kevin Plawecki stepped up to lead off for the Cyclones, and promptly hit a laser over the left field wall off Marcus Jensen to tie the game at six apiece.

Into extra-innings they went.  John Mincone pitched into his second frame.  And with the go ahead runner on third, Mincone struck out the last two batters of the inning.

Brandon Nimmo led of the Cyclones tenth and struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball down the middle of the plate.  Eudy Pina drew another full count but worked out a walk.  Juan Gamboa then worked out a second consecutive walk issued by Marcus Jansen, putting the winning run in scoring position.  After a short fly to center, Phillip Evans stepped up with two outs.  He launched one high and deep to left, but not far enough.  This game was headed for an eleventh inning.

John Mincone came out for another inning of work and effectively retired Hudson Valley for a third straight time.  For his part, he allowed three hits, walked one, gave up no runs, and struck out four.

In the home eleventh, Brooklyn faced Kris Carlson now in relief for Hudson Valley.  After Kevin Plawecki was hit by a pitched ball, Cole Frenzel flared a ball over the second baseman's head to set up a first and second situation with no outs.  Stefan Sabol worked out a walk to load the bases for Jayce Boyd.  Playing in his first game as a Cyclone, he was having a hot night at the plate; batting 3 for 5 to that point.  Boyd then lined a fly to shallow right.  Pinch running for Plawecki at third, Jonathan Clark tagged up and took off for home, successfully scoring the Cyclones' winning run.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers have now opened up a two game lead over the second place Renegades.  This was Brooklyn's eleventh win over four loses.  The teams will now get on the bus and head back into Hudson Valley for the final game of this home-and-home series.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Starting Pitching Continues to Shine

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Kings County is No Place For a Raccoon.  Brooks Two-Hit Their Upstate Rivals.


After taking two of three games from the Iron Birds in Aberdeen, the Seaside Sluggers returned to Coney Island and hosted the Hudson Valley Renegades.  In an early season battle for first place, three Cyclones' pitchers hand-cuffed their upstate rivals.


Making his second start of the season, Luis Mateo pitched his second consecutive abbreviated 2-hitter.  In six full innings, he walked only one, while striking out seven batters.  Mateo lowered his ERA to 0.77, and collected his second win in as many starts.


In relief, Paul Sewald was first out of the pen for Brooklyn.  He pitched two innings of hitless, scoreless ball, and struck out three batters while issuing no walks.  Sewald was credited with his first hold.  Tyler Vanderheiden came in to pitch the ninth inning.  He walked one, and struck out two, in  recording his second save.


Hudson Valley's starting pitcher, Taylor Gerrieri, gave the Brooks a 1-0 lead in the second, when he balked home Cole Frenzel from third base.  Eudy Pina drove in two more Cyclones' runs in the eighth inning, on a bases loaded single to give Brooklyn a 3-0 lead, and an eventual final.


In eight games, Cyclones' pitching has limited their opponents to a .186 batting average, and have pitched to a combined 2.66 ERA.  They lead the lead in shutouts with two, and also lead the circuit with a stellar 0.96 WHIP.


The Cyclones are now making their second pass through the starting rotation.  In eight games, Coach Donnelly has used six starters.  The rotation shapes up like this:


1) - Gabriel Ynoa
2) - Luis Mateo
3) - Luis Cessa
4) - Hansel Robles
5) - Julian Hilario
6) - Rainy Lara


As a rotation, they are averaging 5.2 innings per appearance, while only allowing 3.4 hits per game.  They have yeilded a total of seven walks.  In 44.2 innings pitched, they have amassed forty-five strikeouts.  No starter has surrendered more than two runs in a start, and combined, the rotation sports a 1.42 ERA, allowing seven runs total so far.


The Cyclones are now 6-2, and lead the McNamara Division by a full game over the Renegades.  The series shifts to Peekskill, N.Y., for Game Two, before they return to Coney Island for Game Three on Wednesday.




Mike.BTB