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: Yankees Drop Late Hammer on 'Clones

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

 

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Drop Heart Breaker to the Richmond County Bombers.   Division Flag Is All But Out of Reach Now.

To open this latest engagement in the Battle of the Boroughs, Cyclones' starter Luis Mateo was given first crack at the Staten Island Yankees.  Brooklyn's starter kept the Bombers scoreless through his first six innings of work.  He allowed a mere four hits, walked one batter, and struck out five.  In the inning prior, his team mates finally staked him to a fifth inning 1-0 lead on consecutive base hits by Eudy Pina and Brandon Nimmo, which set up Kevin Plawecki's two out RBI single.


By the end of the seventh inning, the Cyclones went through two Staten Island pitchers.  Yankees' starter, Tim Flight, was gone after pitching three scoreless innings, in which he struck out five batters and surrendered two hits.  The Cyclones scored their run off Dietrich Enns who pitched four frames.


During Richmond County's bottom half of the seventh, the Yankees managed only their sixth hit off Luis Mateo, but nothing more.  And into the eighth inning they went with James Pazos on the mound for Staten Island.  He issued a lead-off walk to Phillip Evans, but was spared the consequences via a 6-4-3 double play.


Luis Mateo did not take the mound for an eighth inning.  Although Brooklyn fans in attendance wished he had.  Craig Hansen was summoned from the visitor's bullpen to advance the Cyclones' 1-0 lead forward.  Instead, he tossed Brooklyn's lead into New York Harbor.  Issuing a lead-off walk, then hitting the next batter, was a certain foreshadowing of things to come.  Six batters, two more hits, another hit batter, a grand slam home run, and another Cyclones pitcher later, the Yankees were proud owners of a newly minted 5-1 lead entering the ninth inning.


There was no comeback for Brooklyn; not against James Pazos working his second inning of relief.  After serving up a lead-off single to Julio Concepcion, the Cyclones went down on a 1-4-3 double play, followed by an unassisted put-out at first base.


Brooklyn's Craig Hansen suffered the double-whammy with a blown save, and a loss.  The Cyclones were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.  They only managed seven scattered hits; all singles.


And well done to Staten Islanders.  Over 5,000 fans attended Richmond County Grounds for Friday night's game.


In western New York State, the Cyclones finally caught a break thanks to a little help from the Williamsport Crosscutters, as they defeated the Muckdogs by a 7-4 score in Batavia.  That means the Cyclones keep their three game lead over the Muckdogs in the race for the Wild Card spot.  Batavia's loss only drops their record to 8-2 over their last ten games.  The Cyclones are 4-6 over that span.


In the McNamara Division race, the Cyclones began the evening five games out of first.  A five run outburst by Aberdeen in the top of the seventh inning, still couldn't help the Iron Birds defeat the Hudson Valley Renegades.  And so, the Cyclones now end their night, six games out of first place.


Twelve games remain in the regular season.





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Four Coney Island Hurlers Pitch Like All Stars

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

New York Penn League - All Star Game Final:

N.L. All Stars  8

A.L. All Stars  1

BROOKLYN CYCLONES - Four Cyclones Pitchers Contribute 3.2 Scoreless Innings To Help National Affiliates Defeat Americans In New York Penn League All Star Game.

Preview

BOXSCORE

Four Cyclones pitchers made the trip west to Ohio representing Brooklyn, and the Mets organization, in this season's eighth annual New York Penn League All Star Game, played Tuesday evening at Eastwood Stadium; home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.


As the visiting team, the National League affiliates trounced the American League affiliates by an 8-1 final score.  Nine National hurlers kept the American team scoreless through eight innings until a solo home run in the ninth inning hit by Connecticut Tigers third baseman Tyler Hanover off Tri City Valley Cats pitcher Blake Ford ended the Nationals' shut-out effort.


The Boys from Brooklyn did well.  They combined on 3.2 innings pitched; allowed two scattered hits; walked none; and struck out six batters.  Luis Mateo was awarded the presitgious starting assignment.  He pitched an inning and struck out two.  John Mincone was the third pitcher used in the game, and pitched in with 0.2 innings, with both outs coming via the strikeout.  Hansel Robles followed with one inning, and surrendered a hit.  Gabriel Ynoa was given the seventh inning.  He surrendered one hit, and struck out two.  Together, they did Brooklyn proud.





Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Sweep Monsters in Three; Four Cyclones Head to All Star Game

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES - The Coney Island Nine Slay the Vermont Lake Monsters 10-5, and Sweep Three Game Series.

Four Cyclones Heading to the All Star Game.

THREE STATEN ISLAND YANKEES SELECTED.

With the weekend's action complete, Brooklyn heads into the New York Penn League All*Star break one game behind in the McNamara Division standings to the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.  Their lead in the Wild Card race now stands at six games over the State College Spikes.  When games resume again on Wednesday, there will be twenty-two games left in the regular season.


On Sunday, the Surf Avenue Sluggers completed a three game sweep in Coney Island over Vermont by pummeling the Lake Monsters 10-5, while Lowell helped the Brooks by defeating the Renegades 5-2 up in Peekskill, N.Y.


After four and a half innings, the game was tied at four apiece.  In the second inning, a double followed by an RBI single put Vermont on the board first against Brooklyn starter, Rainy Lara.  Vermont increased their lead in the fourth.  After a lead-off triple, another RBI single made it a 2-0 game.


In the bottom of the fourth, the Cyclones struck back.  Three consecutive singles by Dimas Ponce, Phillip Evans, and Kevin Plawecki, loaded the bases with no outs.  A double by Alexander Sanchez scored Ponce, and Evans.  And a sac-fly by Nelfi Zapata scored Plawecki from third.  Richie Rodriguez then drove in the fourth Cyclones run of the inning with a single delivering Sanchez.


In the top of the fifth, the Lake Monsters tied the score against Rainy Lara.  Three singles and a walk led to two runs.  But Lara, composed himself to strike out the last two batters of the inning and keep the score at four apiece.  The Cyclones allowed Lara to exit the game on the winning side with a go-ahead home run by Dimas Ponce; his first; in the bottom of the inning.


Rainy Lara pitched five full, allowing seven hits and four earned runs.  He walked one and struck out six before giving way to Logan Taylor in the sixth.  Taylor pitched two stellar innings, surrendering nothing, while striking out three.


In the bottom of the sixth, Brooklyn blew the game open with four more runs.  With one out, Eudy Pina singled, and Brandon Nimmo followed with a double.  Then Dimas Ponce stepped in, and continued his individual onslaught with another single driving home both runners.  Kevin Plawecki drove Ponce home with another RBI single.  And Alexander Sanchez continued his assault as well, with another single to drive in Plawecki.


In the bottom of the seventh, the Cyclones scored once more for good measure.  Eudy Pina scored on one of Vermont's three errors committed in the game.


After Logan Taylor, relievers David Wynn and John Mincone shared eighth inning duties flawlessly.  Then it was up to Tyler Vanderheiden to close out the game.  I do not know what it is about closers being ineffective in non-save situations, but VandyMan followed tradition.  He allowed three hits and one run before securing three outs.  But no harm done; Cyclones win by a 10-5 final score.


Starting pitcher Rainy Lara racked up his seventh win of the season against just one loss.  Today, Rainy Lara is now the New York Penn League leader in wins, and is only four strikeouts behind his team mate, Luis Mateo (67), for tops in the circuit in that category.


The Cyclones scored their ten runs on the strength of fourteen hits.  Dimas Ponce, Kevin Plawecki, and Alexander Sanchez all had three hits each.  And Brandon Nimmo is continuing right along in the lead-off spot, with two more hits in five at-bats.  Brooklyn batted 6 for 12 with runners in scoring position.  He is one of only seven NYPL pitchers with a WHIP below the 1.00 mark.  Not incidentally, four of those seven pitchers are Brooklyn Cyclones!  And to cap things off, the league's top three strikeout leaders are also all Cyclones.

2012 New York Penn League All Star Game

From Eastwood Field, Home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Ohio

New York Penn League All Star Game Rosters

The Brooklyn Cyclones are sending four representatives to the eighth annual NYPL All*Star game; all pitchers.  And that's only appropriate, as strong pitching has marked the Cyclones' season, and dominated the League so far.  Three starting pitchers; Luis Mateo, Gabriel Ynoa; and Hansel Robles will perhaps take a turn on the mound.  And if things go well, reliever John Mincone; Brooklyn's fourth selection; can see some action as well.  As highlighted above, the League's top winner, Rainy Lara, although deserving, will be unavailable.

This year's All Star Game will be played at Eastwood Field, home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Ohio.  The teams are broken up into American League and National League affiliation.

Brooklyn's chief rival, the Staten Island Yankees will be sending three players to join the American League squad.  Pitcher James Pazos; first baseman Matt Snyder; and outfielder Taylor Dugas will represent the Richmond County Baby Bombers in Tuesday's game.

STATS:

* SP - Luis Mateo

* SP - Gabriel Ynoa

* SP - Hansel Robles

* RP - John Mincone

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 ~ Taking A Bite Out of Batavia Muckdogs

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Coney Island Nine have taken the first two games of their great western road trip so far, with a pair of wins against the Batavia Muckdogs.


On Wednesday night, the Muckdogs scored once in the first and again in the fifth, while Batavia's starter, Ben Freeman, cruised through his first five frames.  Staked to a two run lead, he allowed Brooklyn three scattered hits and no runs.


Gabriel Ynoa started for the Brooks.  He allowed both Batavia's runs.  Overall he pitched six full innings, surrendering eight hits, striking out five, while walking none.  He left on the winning side of this game however, because the Cyclones rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth.


Ben Freeman's outing fell apart rather quickly.  He allowed a lead-off single to Jayce Boyd.  Kevin Plawecki lined out hard to right for out one.  After a Ben Freeman wild pitch put Boyd on second, Alexander Sanchez tied the game with his first home run of the season.  Stefan Sabol then followed with a second consecutive home run; his second; to knock Freeman out of the box on the losing side.


That was the extent of the game's scoring.  After Gabriel Ynoa put Batavia down with a pair of strikeouts in the home sixth inning, he took to the showers as reliever Paul Sewald took over on the mound.  Sewald pitched the final three innings against the Muckdogs.  In picking up his second save of the season, he turned in a stellar performance, allowing but one hit and striking out two.  Starter Gabriel Ynoa improved his record to 2-1 on the season.


Coach Donnelly juggled the line-up and gave Brandon Nimmo a shot at the lead-off spot.  Although he is currently only hitting .228 this season, the center fielder's .369 OBP warranted a try.  He went 1 for 4 in the game, with a double, and a walk.  Stefan Sabol was 2 for 3 in the game with a home run and a double.


*


On Thursday and for the second consecutive game, Batavia jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning.  And the score stayed that way through the first seven innings of the game.  Batavia's Tyler Melling pitched the first four innings against Brooklyn.  Then Lee Stoppelman made an early appearance out of the bullpen, and kept the Cyclones in check for another two innings.


Luis Mateo started the game for Brooklyn, and put forth a very good effort, but was ultimately credited with a no-decision.  In 6.2 innings of work, he allowed the Muckdogs six hits, and limited them to the one run Batavia scored in the first.  Otherwise, he walked no batters and struck out seven before handing the game over to the bullpen.


Batavia's one run lead turned into a four run deficit in the top of the eighth inning.  Brooklyn broke out for five runs against the Muckdogs' third and fourth pitchers of the night; Brandon Creath and Joseph Scanio.  Three consecutive singles by Phillips Evans, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki set up a bases loaded/no outs situation for Alexander Sanchez, who lofted a sac-fly to right, delivering Evans from third with the tying run.  Stefan Sabol then followed with his twelfth double of the season which scored Boyd to make it a 2-1 game.  That's when Batavia summoned Scanio to replace Creath on the mound.  No matter though.  Brooklyn's Jeff Reynolds introduced himself with a RBI single, and Eudy Pina's sac-fly scoring Sabol made the score 4-1 Cyclones.  Brandon Nimmo's RBI single then gave Brooklyn their fifth run of the inning.


Brooklyn reliever Logan Taylor was the beneficiary of those runs.  He previously closed out the seventh with one/third inning of work in relief of Luis Mateo.  He allowed one hit.  The bottom of the eighth was Matthew Koch's job though.  In fact, he pitched the ninth inning as well.  Overall, he allowed one hit and struck out one batter.  Logan Taylor was credited with the win however.


The Cyclones picked up two more insurance runs in the ninth.  A throwing error by pitcher Joseph Scanio allowed Jayce Boyd and Kevin Plawecki to score making it a 7-1 game, and eventual final.


Brandon Nimmo batted lead-off for the second consecutive game.  He was 1 for 5 with an RBI.  That makes him 2 for 9 batting from the top slot this series.  Stefan Sabol continued his hot hitting by going 2 for 5 in the game with two doubles and an RBI.  Jayce Boyd was 3 for 5, with two runs scored.


Prior to heading into Western New York, the Cyclones dropped a pair of games to the Aberdeen Iron Bird.  That allowed the Hudson Valley Renegades to take over the McNamara Division lead.  These last two Cyclones' wins have helped Brooklyn stay with 1 1/2 games of the Renegades.  Hudson Valley is in the middle of a seven game winning streak.  The Cyclones are now 23-15 on the season.  The Hudson Valley Renegades sport a slightly better 24-13 record.


Brooklyn will wrap up this series with the Batavia Muckdogs on Friday before continuing their westward journey towards Ohio, where they will take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.  Hudson Valley will be playing a double header versus the Tri Citi Valley Cats.  Another win against the Muckdogs will be key for the second place Cyclones in order to keep pace.





Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Battle of the Boroughs II; Yanks Take Game Two

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS - II

I - Brooklyn Wins Series 3-1

Brooklyn 2; Staten Island 0

Brooklyn 4; Staten Island 1

Brooklyn 7; Staten Island 2

Staten Island 8; Brooklyn 1

II - Series Tied 1-1

Brooklyn 1; Staten Island 0

Staten Island 4; Brooklyn 2

Game Three in St. George

Game Four in Coney Island

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Baby Bombers Gain Spilt After Game Two.  Teams Head Back Over Verrazano Bridge For Game Three in Staten Island.  Series Wraps Up in Coney Island on Sunday.


In the opening game of their second series together, the visiting first place Cyclones needed fifteen innings In Staten Island to put away the Yankees.  Starting pitcher, Gabriel Ynoa pitched six shutout innings and give up one lone hit to Staten Island batters.  He walked two and struck out three before exiting a scoreless game.  Staten Island's Andrew Benack last four innings for the Yankees and surrendered four hits and no runs before giving way to the bullpen.


For the game, Staten Island's pitching was getting by, somehow managing Brooklyn for fourteen innings.  The Cyclones wrapped eleven total hits, with four doubles in the game.  But the Seaside Sluggers had troubles pushing runs across the plate as they batted a mere 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.  The Yankees didn't fare much better batting 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.  Seven Brooklyn pitchers limited the Yankees to four hits all game.


Late in the night, Dimas Ponce led off the top of the fifteenth inning with a double off the fifth Staten Island pitcher, Alex Smith, who was in his third inning of work.  Dimas moved to third on Jonathan Clark's bunt single.  Richie Rodriguez then lifted a fly to center, on which Dimas Ponce tagged-up from third and scored the games only run.


Out of Brooklyn's bullpen came Tyler Vanderheiden to preserve the lead and end the game.  He made it interesting by walking a batter and hitting another.  But with a strike out, and inducing his last batter into a game ending double play, his sixth save of the season was secured, as was the Brooklyn Cyclones' twentieth win.

*

The series crossed over the Verrazano and headed back to Coney Island for Friday night's second game of the series.  Under threatening skies and Fall type weather conditions, Staten Island took an early 1-0 lead after two innings, and a 3-0 lead after three against Boardwalk Bum starter, Luis Mateo, who was making his sixth start this season, and in search of his fifth win.  But the Baby Bombers had other ideas.


The Yankees' Gabriel Encinas managed five innings pitched.  He allowed six hits and one earned run.  He struggled a bit walking for, but also recorded four strikeouts.  Evan DeLuca took over for Encinas and pitched the next two innings, and also allowed Brooklyn one run.  But that's all the Surf Avenue Sluggers would get this night.  Stefan Lopez and Taylor Garrison kept the Cyclones subdued over the last two frames to preserve a 4-2 Yankees victory.


Brooklyn scored lone runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  Kevin Plawecki had an RBI single to put the 'Clones on the board.  In the sixth, Jayce Boyd led off with a double.  The next batter, Eudy Pina, also doubled to drive in Boyd for the home team's second and last run of the evening.  In this game, the Cyclones batted 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.  That makes them three for their last twenty-four times at bat with RiSP.


Starting pitcher Luis Mateo is now 4-2 on the season.  He pitched six full, and allowed six hits, and four earned runs.  He surrendered one home run, walked three and struck out three.  Beck Wheeler and Ernesto Yanez combined on three stellar innings in relief however.  Wheeler struck out four batters in two innings of work.  Neither allowed Staten Island a hit, and issued no walks.


Brooklyn's lead in the McNamara Division is now just one game over the Hudson Valley Renegades, who defeated the Aberdeen Iron Birds by a 3-2 score Friday evening up in Fishkill, N.Y.  Staten Island's third place standing is unchanged.  They now sport a 13-19 record, and are seven games back of the Cyclones.


Friday's loss drops Brooklyn to 8-8 at home.  They have not enjoyed the dominance yet, they are so accustomed toused to in Coney Island.  On the road is where they have played best, to the tune of a 12-4 record.  The hottest team in the League, the Stedler Division leading Tri-Citi Valley Cats are tops in the circuit with twenty-four wins.  The Cyclones are second with twenty.




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

BKN Cyclones ~ Brooks Dump on Staten Island's Home Opener

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS - II

FINAL

Brooklyn Cyclones        4

Staten Island Yankees   1

Brooklyn Leads The Battle 2-0

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:   Baby Bombers' Opening Day Foiled By Cole Frenzel, and Coney Island's Pitching.


With more stingy pitching, the Boardwalk Bums took another cue from their big brothers in Flushing by limiting the Staten Island Yankees to two hits, in the second game of their home-and-home 2012 Season Openers.  Having secured their Opening Day victory Monday night in Coney Island with a 2-0 victory over the Yankees, the Cyclones took the trip over the Verrazano Bridge Tuesday and secured a second victory in Staten Island's Home Opener.


Luis Mateo started for Brooklyn, and pitched 5.2 innings of two hit ball.  He served up one solo home run to DH-Saxon Butler.  Otherwise, Luis walked just one batter, and whiffed nine of the twenty-one Baby Bombers he faced.  John Mincone took over with two outs, and finished the sixth inning for Mateo.  John was credited with a hold after pitching two more innings and posting zeroes, with one strikeout.  Jeremy Gould was then given a crack at his first save opportunity in the ninth and struck out the side.


As a returning player from 2011, Cole Frenzel exerted some offensive leadership.  In the second inning, Kevin Plawecki was hit by a pitch.  After Cole Frenzel followed with a single, Plawecki scored on an E-5 off the bat of Stefan Sabol.  Frenzel later came around to score on Jonathan Clark's sac-fly, for a 2-0 Brooklyn lead.


In the third, the Yankees cut the lead by one.  But the Cyclones regained their two run lead in their next at-bat.  Cole Frenzel scored again on a fielder's choice.  In the seventh, the Brooks scored their fourth and final run.  Brandon Nimmo scored on Cole Frenzel's RBI single.  Cole finished the night batting 3 for 5, with two runs scored.


Brandon Nimmo recorded his first hit as a Cyclone in the third inning, and finished the night 1 for 3, with two walks and a run scored.  The Cyclones had numerous opportunities to blow the game open.  They left eleven runners on base, and batted 1 for 13 with RISP.


They'll play game three of this four game series in Staten Island again Wednesday, before the series moves back to Coney Island on Thursday.




Mike.BTB