Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Aberdeen IronBirds in SAL Playoff Opener

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF

Aberdeen IronBirds vs. Brooklyn Cyclones

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.

Brooklyn Cyclones Power Up Against Winston-Salem

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

II - BKN 5; WSD 2

Brooklyn's Magic Number is Three, With Four to Play

The Brooklyn Cyclones remain in control of their destiny.  They took a second straight contest from the Dash on Wednesday and are now winners of 12 of their last 14 games and lead all SAL teams with a second-half 38-24 (.613) record.  Meanwhile, the Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Blue Rocks at Wilmington to stay within 1.5 games of the Cyclones, with four games left to play.

Winston-Salem took an early lead, manufacturing two runs on three hits off starter Luis Moreno in the first.  But they would score no more.  Moreno limited the Dash to four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.  He exited on the winning side thanks to Coney Island's five-run outburst in the third.  

Left fielder Matt Rudick kicked things off with a clutch two-out run-scoring triple, then scored on an Alex Ramirez double to center.  First baseman JT Schwartz drove in Ramirez with a home run to right field, and Jose Peroza went back-to-back with his eighth home run this season.

Right-hander Franklin Sanchez struck out the side in the eighth, and Dylan Hall earned his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Wilmington Blue Rocks to Remain in First Place

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

II - WIL 11; BKN 7

III - BKN 9; WIL 1

Luis Moreno Hurls Gem at Wilmington Blue Rocks

Making his 14th start, Luis Moreno hurled a gem to keep the Cyclones a step ahead in the standings over the Hudson Valley Renegades.  The right-hander faced 23 Wilmington batters while throwing 84 pitches, with 56 (66.6%) going for strikes.  Moreno allowed three hits and no walks with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched for the win.  Right-hander Daison Acosta tossed a scoreless eighth in relief, and Daniel Juarez closed out the ninth despite yielding an unearned run.  Catcher Matt O'Neill was the big man on campus, going 2 for 3 with a walk, three runs batted in, and three runs scored, and first baseman JT Schwartz was 3 for 5 with two runs batted in.

Jersey Shore provided no help, getting shut out by the Renegades.  With nine games left in the regular season, the Cyclones own a precarious half-game lead over the Renegades.

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Slugfest at Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore

I - BK 7; JS 0

II - BK 5; JS 4

III - BK 8; JS 5

IV - BK 7; JS 5

Cyclones Take Fourth Straight at ShoreTown Ballpark

Coney Island keeps stemming the tide at Jersey Shore, but the Renegades defeated the Crawdads, and the Ironbirds took care of the Blue Rocks, and so all remains as it was.  The Cyclones trail Hudson Valley by one half game, and Aberdeen trails Brooklyn by one full game.

The North Division contending Cyclones scored early and often.  Second baseman Jose Peroza clubbed a two-run home run, and Stanley Consuegra's RBI single gave Brooklyn a prompt first-inning 3-0 lead.  They added a run on a wild pitch in the second, and third baseman Jaylen Palmer followed with what later proved to be a decisive three-run round-tripper in the third for a seven-run advantage.

Sure enough, the game's momentum completely changed on a dime.  Three Jersey Shore bullpen members held the Cyclones scoreless over the final six frames while the BlueClaws lineup started pressing matters at the plate.

Coney Island starter Luis Moreno surrendered a solo home run in the fourth and another in the sixth but completed the frame to exit on the winning side after allowing four total hits and striking out five.  

Making his second relief appearance for the Cyclones, right-hander Trey McGloughlin surrendered a two-out, three-run home run in the seventh but settled down to pitch a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to close the game and earn his first save.

The Cyclones improved to a 30-22 second-half record and a 60-58 mark overall.  They have fourteen games left on their schedule: two against Jersey Shore, a penultimate series at home against Wilmington, and the season finale at Winston-Salem.  BOXSCORE

Hudson Valley Renegades Shut Out Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley vs. Brooklyn

I - HVR 7; BKN 4

II - BKN 7; HVR 5

III - HVR 11; BKN 4

IV - BKN 3; HVR 2

V - HVR 5; BKN 0

Down Goes Brooklyn..!

A crowd of 5,050 suffered not one but two punches to the gut.  Saturday's starting pitchers, Richard Fitts and Brooklyn's Luis Moreno traded goose eggs through the fifth.  In the top of the sixth, Renegade catcher Carlos Navarez clubbed a three-run home run to left, knocking Moreno out of the game.  With one out and one runner on base in the eighth, right fielder Grant Richardson homered off Sammy Tavarez for a 5-0 Renegade lead.  Left fielder Matt Rudick scored on a double-play ball in the home eighth, but it went for naught.  

The pendulum now swings back in Hudson Valley's favor.  They take a half-game lead ahead of the Cyclones in the North Division standings.  These teams meet for the last time this regular season on Sunday.  Afterwhich, the Cyclones will have 18 games left to play.  Meanwhile, the Aberdeen Ironbirds end Saturday's action just 1.5 games out of first place.  BOXSCORE

Winston-Salem Dash Salvages Split Against Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Winston-Salem vs. Brooklyn

I - WSD 4; BKN 2

II - WSD 8; BKN 0

III - BKN 5; WSD 1

IV - BKN 2; WSD 0

V - BKN 3; WSD 1

VI - WSD 5; BKN 2

Winston-Salem Dash Salvage Finale For Series Split

With single runs in the final three frames, Winston-Salem held on to win Sunday's finale and salvage a split of their first-ever series on Coney Island.  The Dash scored against five of six Cyclone pitchers faced.  Only Justin Courtney kept Winston-Salem off the board with 1.1 scoreless innings.  Starter Luis Moreno allowed one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a brief three-inning outing for the loss.  Brooklyn drew five walks, mustered six hits, but left ten runners on base and batted 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.  Left fielder Matt Rudick hit a solo home run in the eighth, his third this season.  Brooklyn presently leads the Hudson Valley Renegades by one-half game in the North Division standings with thirty games left on their schedule.

Brooklyn Cyclones Bow in First-Ever Match Against Winston-Salem Dash

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Winston-Salem vs. Brooklyn

I - WSD 4; BKN 2

The first ever game played between the Winston-Salem Dash, and Brooklyn Cyclones goes to the visitors from North Carolina.  The Dash opened with a run in the first inning in a hotly contested match.  Not until the fourth inning did the Cyclones tie the game.  But Winston-Salem reestablished a lead with two runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth.  Brooklyn did threaten in the ninth.  Brooklyn right fielder Stanley Consuegra singled home a run to bring the 'Clones within two.  But with two outs and runners on the corners, up to the plate stepped young Alex Ramirez, who struck out to end the game.  Right-hander Luis Moreno gave up three runs on nine hits, including two home runs, in 5.2 innings for the loss.

Good luck to pitchers Nick Zwack and Carson Seymour, who on Tuesday were both traded to the Giants.  Thank you for your time in Brooklyn!

New York Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones Defeat Yankees and Affiliated Rival in Local Showdowns

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

Up in Dutchess County Stadium, the Kings County Kids tied their series against the Renegades, while in Queens, their parent club staged a ninth-inning walk-off victory over the Bronx club at Citi Field.

The night's main feature was Brooklyn's pitching, who held Hudson Valley scoreless through the seventh.  But the Renegades spoiled the shutout with two runs in the eighth.  

Making his seventh start (ninth appearance) with the Cyclones, right-hander Luis Moreno allowed a mere two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings.  This season's St. Lucie graduate faced twenty batters and threw 79 pitches, with a very effective 59 (74.6%) going for strikes.  It marks Moreno's first victory at the high-A level, and he now boasts a reduced 2.90 ERA through 80.2 total innings pitched.  Right-hander Daison Acosta yielded two earned runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over the final three innings to earn his fourth save.

Facing Renegade starter Blas Castano, the Cyclones engaged in a scoreless duel through the fifth.  Once Castano departed from the box, the game promptly tilted in Brooklyn's favor.  Now facing the bullpen in the sixth, designated hitter Rowdey Jordan singled home a run, and first baseman JT Schwartz blasted a grand slam home run to right/center.  Center fielder Alex Ramirez singled home another run in the seventh, giving the Cyclones a 6-2 final margin of victory.  BOXSCORE

Meanwhile, back in Queens, Max Scherzer fanned Aaron Judge three times, allowed five hits and two walks with six overall strikeouts in seven innings, but walked off to a no-decision.  Pete Alonso homered in the second, and Francisco Lindor knocked in a run in the third.  After the Yankees tied the game in the eighth, Starling Marte delivered home the game-winning run in the ninth with a line single to left.  The Mets completed a two-game sweep of the Yankees.

Brooklyn Cyclones Come Up Short Against the Grasshoppers

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Greensboro vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 6; GRB 5

II - BKN 9; GRB 0

III - GRB 6; BKN 5

Greensboro Grasshoppers Notch First-Ever Victory Against Brooklyn Cyclones

Brooklyn got things going when Rowdey Jordan scored on an E-6 in the first.  In the second, center fielder Jaylen Palmer scored on a fielder's choice, and Jose Peroza's two-run home run in the third staked starter Luis Moreno to a 4-1 lead after three.  The score remained unchanged until the sixth, when Greensboro pulled within two.  Making his sixth start with Brooklyn, Luis Moreno exited on the winning side after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk in 5.2 innings.  The Grasshoppers tallied once against reliever Brendan Hardy in the seventh.  Facing Justin Courtney in the top of the eighth, Grasshopper designated hitter Abraham Gutierrez struck the decisive blow, a three-run home run to left/center.  Second baseman Nic Gaddis tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the ninth, but the Cyclones would tally no more.  Luis Moreno escaped with a no-decision while Justin Courtney blew the save and took the loss.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Get Two-Hit By Renegades at Dutchess Stadium

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN vs. HUDSON VALLEY

I - HVR 5; BKN 2

II - HVR 8; BKN 5

III - BKN 6; HVR 1

IV - BKN 6; HVR 2

V - HVR 2; BKN 1

Cyclones Get Two-Hit; Renegades Take Series Lead

If you look in the dictionary for the definition of a hard-luck loss, you'll find the boxscore of Saturday's contest at Dutchess Stadium.

Making his fourth start (fifth appearance) with Brooklyn, right-hander Luis Moreno climbed the bump opposed by Yoendrys Gomez for the Renegades.

Hudson Valley scored in the fourth on third baseman Tyler Hardman's home run, then added an unearned run in the sixth.  Brooklyn scored once on a wild pitch in the fifth.  Otherwise, the Cyclones mustered little else.

Making only his fourth start of the season, Yoendrys Gomez held the Cyclones scoreless over 3.1 innings of no-hit ball, with one walk and three strikeouts, but departed the game to a no-decision.

Right-handed reliever Jhonatan Munoz followed Gomez, allowing an unearned run on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts for the win, his third this season.  Twenty-six-year-old Ryan Miller, who had his contract purchased from Sioux City of the American Association earlier this season, closed the game with a seven-out save.

Brooklyn's Luis Moreno allowed two runs (one earned) on just three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts in six innings and took the loss.  Right-hander Justin Courtney closed the game with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball.

First baseman JT Schwartz and second baseman Branden Fryman accounted for Brooklyn's only hits.

With the victory, Hudson Valley takes a 3-2 series lead, with the finale slated for Sunday.  Boxscore

Brooklyn Cyclones Open Second Half With Series Victory Over Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE OF THE BEACHES

Jersey Shore vs. Coney Island

I - BK 4; JS 3

II - JS 5; BK 3

III - BK 3; JS 1

IV - BK 2; JS 1

V - BK 6; JS 2

VI - BK 3; JS 2

Cyclones Take Sunday Finale; Bullpen Closes Out Strong Series Performance

Yet another pitching duel unfolded at Coney Island on Sunday afternoon.  

The Blue Claws and Cyclones entered the eighth inning tied at two with only four and three hits, respectively.  Catcher Nic Gaddis doubled home Brooklyn's first run in the opening frame, and JT Schwartz scored on a wild pitch in the fourth.  Jersey Shore recovered with two runs in the fifth.

Brooklyn put the potential go-ahead run at second base with one out in the home eighth but left him stranded.  In the top of the ninth, right fielder Joe Suozzi threw out the potential tying run at the plate to preserve the tie.

In the bottom of the ninth, designated hitter Matt O'Neill singled home Jose Peroza with the winning run.

Making his third start with Brooklyn, Luis Moreno allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a no-decision effort.

The bullpen once again performed brilliantly.  Right-hander Brendan Hardy allowed no runs and no hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings, and Carson Seymour allowed no hits in two scoreless innings pitched.  Both pitchers graduated up from St. Lucie this season.  Brooklyn mainstay Justin Courtney 

threw a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth win this season.

With the victory, the Cyclones win their third straight, take the series from Jersey City five games to one, and begin the second half of the season with a 3-0 record.