Brooklyn Cyclones: A Big Mistake By The Lake

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

The Defense Rests ...

Brooklyn Cyclones: Brooks Defense Hand Feed Monsters a Victory.

Playing off the shores of scenic Lake Champlain, the Cyclones couldn't have scripted a better start to Sunday's series opener.  Leading off the game, Ross Adolph introduces himself to Monster starting pitcher Jose Mora with a home run to left.  Four hits, three walks, and a sacrifice fly later, the Cyclones stake their ace Jaison Vilera to a commanding 6-0 lead before Vermont ever steps to the plate.

Very shortly thereafter, however, everything that could go wrong for Brooklyn, did.

A throwing error in the second by Brooklyn left fielder Wagner Lagrange leads to Vermont's first unearned run.  Two innings later, an error by center fielder Anthony Dirocie results in another pair of unearned runs.

Brooklyn is reinforced by second baseman Carlos Cortes' two-run home run midway through the sixth, giving the Cyclones an 8-3 lead. 

But that did little to tidy their sloppy play in the field.  Shortstop Manny Rodriguez' two-base error opening the bottom half of the sixth would eventually lead to Monster first baseman Aaron Arruda' two-out, three-run home run off Jaison Vilera.  But their poor play doesn't stop there.  Carlos Cortes' seventh inning error would pave the way for yet another unearned Vermont run.  Then in the bottom of the ninth, with runners on the corners and just one out, Cyclones reliever Ezequiel Zabaleta balks home the game tying run.

Into extra innings they go, as the teams trade runs in the tenth.

Coney Island's final undoing would come in the home twelfth when Brooklyn left fielder Wagner Lagrange and center fielder Anthony Dirocie suffer a miscommunication on a playable flare to shallow left/center.  Both allow the ball to drop in between them, and thus allow the winning run to score from second base.

Jaison Vilera makes his twelfth start of the regular season, but walks off with a no decision.  His record remains at 5-1 with a league leading 1.72 ERA.  He allows six runs (just two earned) on seven hits and a walk, with six strikeouts. 

IS JAISON VILERA RUNNING OUT OF GAS?

However, his seven hits allowed are a season high.  In his first eight starts, Jaison surrendered just 23 hits through 46 innings pitched, for a stellar 4.5 H/9 average.  In his last four starts since, Jaison has surrendered 24 hits in just 22 innings for an inflated 9.8 H/9 average.  In turn, his falling rate of strikeouts is perhaps confirmation of potential tiring on behalf of the Cyclones ace pitcher.  Vilera posted a 10.9 K/9 average through his first eight starts, but owns a reduced 6.5 K/9 average through four starts since.

SUNDAY CRUMMY SUNDAY

Sunday's loss to the Lake Monsters now places Brooklyn four full games behind the McNamara Division leading Hudson Valley Renegades.  The Cyclones have eight games remaining in the season which includes their upcoming three game series against the Renegades later this week at Coney Island.

In the Wild Card, Coney Island holds a half-game lead over the Auburn Doubledays, and a full game lead over Staten Island, whom lost to Hudson Valley in Sunday action.  Meanwhile, the Vermont Lake Monsters, now winners of five in a row, close to within 2.5 games of the Cyclones.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Coney is Where the Wild Things Are

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Next Stop ... Vermont, Where The Lake Monsters Are

Brooklyn Cyclones: Slug Way To Rubber Game Victory over Connecticut Tigers; Take Over Sole Possession of Wild Card.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers in front of a full house Saturday night at MCU Park clinch their rubber game against Connecticut with a second straight drubbing of the Tigers.

Edgardo Alfonzo's crew strike early and often, opening with three runs in the first, and four more runs in the third.  Connecticut scraps together a pair of runs against Cyclones starter Kyle Wilson in the fourth and one more in the fifth.  But the Brooks strike back in the home half of each frame, extending their lead to an eventual 10-3 margin of victory.

Chase Chambers and Jose Miguel Medina for a second consecutive game drive in two runs apiece. Anthony Dirocie and Manny Rodriguez each add two RBI, as well.  Six Cyclones hitters post multiple hit games as part of Brooklyn's fifteen hit attack.  For a second straight game they also post double-digit runs against the Tigers.

Kyle Wilson exits the game after five innings.  He surrenders three earned runs on six hits and a walk, and strikes out five en route to his fifth ever win as a pro.

CURIOUS CALL TO THE BULLPEN

Relievers Billy Oxford and Yeudy Colon each are curiously tasked with two innings of work.  Maintaining routine, for sake of work, or out of pure desperation, only Coach Alfonzo knows why other members of the pen failed to get the ball in that situation.  Now down to their last nine games and final three series of the regular season, the Cyclones need all hands on deck.  That being said, is there no other reliever in need of work, fine tuning, or perhaps even a positive outing aimed at boosting confidence?  With a seven run lead, planning ahead is a worthwhile gamble not just in this instance, but also as it pertains to setting up the bullpen for the upcoming series at Vermont, and the looming Hudson Valley clash to follow.

WHERE THE WILD TEAMS ARE

Up in Dutchess County the Tri City Valley Cats and host Hudson Valley Renegades battled into extra innings.  The Valley Cats two runs in the top of the tenth was negated when the Renegades rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the frame for a 7-6 victory.  Thus the Cyclones end the night 2.5 games behind the McNamara Division leading Renegades, but presently own sole possession of the Wild Card.  Their victory over the Tigers coupled with Staten Island's loss against Aberdeen gives the Cyclones a one game lead over the Pizza Rats, but only a half-game lead over the Auburn Doubledays, whom on Saturday whitewash State College.  The Cyclones next opponent is Vermont, whom on Saturday defeat Lowell to stay just 3.5 games back of Brooklyn.  In turn, the fading Spinners fall yet another notch further down the Wild Card standings.

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: Thor Drops Hammer on Pizza Rats

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

VERRAZZANO NARROWS 

SHOWDOWN

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Season Series Tied 4-4

SUNDAY

Yankees    1

Cyclones   2

FINAL

Brooklyn Cyclones: Thor Giveth, and Thor Taketh Away.

We all know New York City rodents aren't skittish around people anymore.  But those Pizza Rats from Staten Island may have come off just a little too damn cocky during their most recent visit to Coney Island.

I'm sure Noah Syndergaard isn't too pleased with himself, either.

Making a rehab assignment start for the Cyclones, Syndergaard issues a walk to the first batter of the game, who then disrespectfully steals second base.  With one out, a solid base hit by Staten Island backstop Josh Breaux puts runners on the corners.  Syndergaard fans the next batter, but then unleashes a wild pitch allowing Pizza Rat Alex Junior to scurry home.

After which, Thor drops his hammer.  He allows the Rats just one more hit in the fourth, and fans six through his final four innings of work.  All told, Syndergaard pitches five innings, allows one earned run on just two hits, walks one, and strikes out seven.  He faces nineteen Pizza Rats, throwing 71 pitches with 46 (65%) going for strikes.

It's a good thing too, because the Cyclones were limited to a pair of runs on just five hits by Staten Island starter Roansy Contreras and reliever Shawn Semple.

JOSE MIGUEL MEDINA IS BIG MAN ON CAMPUSS

BUT SMALL BALL WINS THE DAY

• Brooklyn ties the game at one in the third.  Third baseman Brian Sharp draws a lead-off walk, and is advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Manny Rodriguez.  Sharp then scores on Jose Miguel Medina's double to left.

The game remains locked at one through the seventh.

• Catcher Nick Meyer leads off the bottom of the eighth with a single back up the middle.  Brian Sharp's sacrifice bunt successfully moves Meyer to second base.  After Manny Rodriguez looks at strike three, Jose Miguel Medina singles home Meyer with the go-ahead run.

Reliever Kevin Smith faces ten batters pitching the final three innings for Brooklyn.  He earns his second victory of the season after limiting Staten Island to no walks, just one hit, and striking out four.

With only their second victory in their last seven games, the Cyclones snap a five game losing streak, and avoid falling below par, instead improving to 12-11 on the season.  Although they remain three games back of the Hudson Valley Renegades, Brooklyn slides back into second place past Aberdeen.

Brooklyn also evens the season series against Staten Island at four games apiece.

The Staten Island Yankee Baby Bomber Pizza Rats Baseball Club fall to 10-13 on the season.

The teams head back to Richmond County and the St. George Rat Den for Monday's series finale.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Ross Adolph Leads Coney Island Over Staten Island Yanks

From the desk of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  and  THE ST. GEORGE SAUSAGE RATS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Series tied 1-1

I - SIY 3; BKC 1

II - BKC 7; SIY 4

GAME THEE

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Ballpark by the Beach

CONEY ISLAND

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Victory at Richmond County Yard.

After going down meekly in the first, the Coney Island bats ignited in the second inning against Staten Island starter Juan De Paula.  Leading off, first baseman Chase Chambers (fifth in the league in batting) squeezed a grounder through the infield.  Center fielder Ross Adolph then followed with a home run over the right/center wall.  Catcher Nick Meyer kept the hits coming with a triple to right, then scored on shortstop Manny Rodriguez' one-out base hit through the left side of the infield.  Second baseman Oliver Pasqual added a single, but the Yankees escaped further damage by turning  5-4-3 double play.

Monday Night Baseball

Cyclones     7

Pizza Rats  4

final

Leading off the bottom of the third, Staten Island center fielder Junior Soto homered off Brooklyn starter Christian James.  An inning later, the Yankees knocked James out of the box upon taking a 4-3 lead with three runs on three hits and a walk.  Coach Alfonzo relieved him with by Billy Oxford.

After Coney Island left fielder David Miranda drew a walk leading off the sixth, Chase Chambers put runners on the corners with a single to center.  After a pitching change, Ross Adolph delivered the game tying run with a hit to right.

Staten Island's bullpen struggles continued, surrendering three more runs through the eighth inning.  The Cyclones pounded Yankees pitching for twelve hits overall, five for extra bases.

After just 3.2 innings pitched, starter Christian James escapes with a no-decision.  Billy Oxford earns the win for his 2.1 innings of scoreless work.  He allowed three hits and fanned one.  Yeudy Colon pitched both the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of the season.

The Cyclones even the series against the Yankees; the series finale shifts back to Coney Island Tuesday.  With Monday's victory, they also avoid losing their third straight.  Instead they gain their eleventh victory of the season.  The Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Iron Birds at Aberdeen, and therefore maintain their slim one game lead over the second place Cyclones.  Meanwhile, the Yankees remain anchored in last place of the McNamara Division with a 5-12 record to start the season.


New York-Penn League:

• Chase Chambers - #5 Avg; #5 OBP
• Jose Brizuela - #9 OPS
• Jose Miguel Medina - t-#2 Doubles

Brooklyn has struck for at least twelves hit in three of their last five games.  One night after stroking a season high fifteen hits against the Lake Monsters, they one-upped themselves, battering Vermont pitching for another record setting sixteen hits.

They're yet to play twenty games, but this year's Cyclones have easily distinguished themselves from last year's team, and the prior year's team for that matter.  Under manager Edgardo Alfonzo the Surf Avenue Sluggers are playing up to their name:


New York Penn League Team Offense:

• Runs - #1
• Hits - #1
• Doubles - #1
• Triples - #1
• Total Bases - #1
• Team Avg - #2
• Team OBP - #2
• Team Slugging - #3
• Walks - #7
• K - #6 most
• Home Runs - #10

When compared to the others, that last stat is quite telling, isn't it?  Something the Queens Mets should be paying closer attention to.

I digress ...

However, The Cyclones on the mound are doing themselves no favors.  In a pitcher's league, the Coney Island hurlers are lagging, to say the least.  In a fourteen team league, Cyclones pitching presently rates below league par.

New York -Penn League Team Pitching:

• ERA - #10
• WHiP - #10
• Earned Runs - Fifth most
• Hits Allowed - fourth most
• Home Runs Allowed - sixth most
• Base on Balls - sixth most  
• Strikeouts - sixth most

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

#LetsGoCyclones