Brooklyn Cyclones Open Final Series With Victory Over Winston-Salem Dash

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Winston-Salem

I - BKN 6; WSD 2

Better Late Than Never; Cyclones Extend Lead Over Renegades

With Brooklyn making their first-ever visit to Truist Stadium, North Carolina, starter Christian Scott was treated to a rude welcome by the Dash.  After falling behind in the first, Jose Mena singled home JT Schwartz in the top of the second.  But Winston-Salem went ahead again in the bottom half of the frame.  

Despite retiring six of his next seven batters faced, Scott exited after allowing five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in four innings.  

Afterwhich, the bullpen held the Dash scoreless over the final five frames.  Right-hander Trey McGloughlin followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball, Nolan Clenney went unscathed through the eighth, and Nathan Lavender hurled a scoreless ninth.

Their efforts were rewarded starting in the seventh when shortstop Shervyen Newton and Matt Rudick delivered home a pair, Stanley Consuegra doubled home a run in the eighth, and Newton smashed a two-run home run in the ninth - his eighth this season.

Brooklyn wins their third consecutive game.  Coupled with Hudson Valley's loss against Wilmington, the Cyclones now own a 1.5 game lead ahead of the Renegades with five games left to play.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Lose Extra-Inning Pitcher's Duel to Wilmington

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

IV - WIL 1; BKN 0*

*10 innings

Cyclones Suffer Heartbreaking Loss; Cede First Place Back to Hudson Valley Renegades

With first place on the line, a crowd of 3,894 was made to wait out an old-fashioned pitcher's duel as both Wilmington and Brooklyn twirlers served up goose eggs for nine full innings.  

The Blue Rocks went the opener's route, with Evan Lee getting the start and exiting after allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts through the second inning.  Three relievers combined to limit the Cyclones to a pair of hits over the next seven innings.  

Brooklyn starter Dominic Hamel effectively hurled a gem, holding the Blue Rocks to three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.  Right-hander Nolan Clenney followed with four strikeouts in two scoreless frames.

Then into extra innings on Coney Island, they went.

Southpaw Nathan Lavender was tasked with pitching the tenth.  The ghost runner was bunted over to third, then scored on Cody Wilson's base hit - simple as that.  

In the bottom of the tenth, Wilmington's Orlando Ribalta set down the Cyclones in order and struck out Jaylen Palmer to end the game.

Coupled with Hudson Valley's victory over the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the Renegades regain a half-game lead ahead of the Cyclones with eight games left to play.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Complete Sweep 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

V - BK 8; JS 3

VI - BK 18; JS 1

Cyclones Wipe Out Jersey Shore

Brooklyn wrapped up their business at Jersey Shore with a rout of the BlueClaws.  Shortstop Shervyen Newton cleared the bases in the second with a three-run double.  The Cyclones added four in the third on Stanley Consuegra's two-run dinger and runs batted in by Matt O'Neill and Matt Rudick for a seven-run lead.  Third baseman William Lugo followed with a three-run home run in the fourth.  

Afterwhich, the tide went out on the rest of Jersey Shore's pitching.  The Cyclones scored seven times in the fifth inning on three hits, five walks, and a hit-by-pitch, then tacked one more run for good measure in the visitor's ninth.  Lugo was the big man on campus, going 4 for 6 with four runs batted in and four runs scored.  Newton was 3 for 4 with two walks, a double, four runs batted in, and two runs scored, and catcher Matt O'Neill had three runs batted in.

Starter Keyshawn Askew walked the bases loaded in the first inning and, with two outs, was removed from the game.  Into the fray entered Nathan Lavender, who secured out number three.  Lavender continued to hurl three scoreless innings of one-hit baseball with seven strikeouts.  The Blue Claws spoiled the shutout against Jeffrey Colon in the sixth.  Otherwise, Colon allowed three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over the final five innings.  Lavender earned the win, and Colon the save.  Together, Brooklyn limited the BlueClaws to four hits, and three walks, with 17 strikeouts to complete the series sweep at ShoreTown Ballpark.  BOXSCORE

Up at Dutchess County Stadium, the Hickory Crawdads blew a 6-4 lead through the fifth.  Hudson Valley answered with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh en route to a 9-7 win.  The 'Gades retain its half-game lead over the Cyclones with only two series and twelve games left in the season.  The Aberdeen Ironbirds lost at Wilmington to fall 2.5 games back of the Renegades.  If the Renegades or Cyclones win the second-half flag, they will meet the first-half champs from Aberdeen.

Hudson Valley Pounds Brooklyn for Division Lead

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

Cyclones Get Beached on Coney Island

The North Division pendulum continues to swing.  Thursday, it went back in Hudson Valley's favor.

Brooklyn's Jose Peroza remains red hot and, in the opening frame, doubled home the game's first run.  He drove in two Cyclones' runs, with William Lugo and Alex Ramirez knocking in the others. 

Otherwise, game three was all Renegades, who scored early, often, and late en route to an 11-4 game three victory.

Brooklyn starter Tommy Hunter opened with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Right-hander Junior Santos followed but had his offerings punished, allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks in three innings pitched for the loss.  After Nathan Lavender hurled two scoreless innings, Justin Courtney was next to get punished for four runs on four hits, including two home runs. 

Afterwhich, Sammy Tavarez was needed to secure the last out in the ninth.  BOXSCORE

Wilmington Blue Rocks Seize Series Lead Against Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

III - BKN 7; WIL 6*

IV - WIL 7; BKN 1

V - WIL 4; BKN 2

Bullpen Suffers Sixth-Inning Implosion

Nursing a two-run lead, the game went awry for Brooklyn in the sixth.  Making his first start for the 'Clones, right-hander Christian Scott exited on the winning side after allowing just three hits and no walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 scoreless innings.  But after hurling a scoreless fifth, reliever Nathan Lavender yielded four hits and a walk and threw a run-scoring wild pitch in what proved a decisive four-run sixth inning for Wilmington.  Left-hander Cam Opp was called in to finish the sixth, but the damage was already done.  Brooklyn dropped their second straight to the Blue Rocks and trails the series, three games against two.  Right fielder Alex Ramirez and Jose Peroza drove in runs for Brooklyn.  Hudson Valley defeated the Aberdeen Ironbirds to regain a half-game division lead over the Cyclones.

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Wilmington Blue Rocks

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

Joe Suozzi Causes Rock Slide in Wilmington

Brooklyn bounced back from Tuesday's opening loss to defeat Wilmington and even the series at one.

Second baseman Jose Peroza doubled home a run in the first inning, then reached on a fielder's choice, and scored in the third.  First baseman Joe Suozzi cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to right field as part of a six-run fourth inning, giving the Cyclones an 8-0 lead.  

The Blue Rocks finally manufactured a run in the home fourth to ruin the shutout.  Otherwise, the Blue Rocks were limited to six hits.  

Making his sixth start with Brooklyn, starter Dominic Hamel allowed one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts in five innings for the win.  He improved to 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA.  Southpaw Nathan Lavender yielded a hit and fanned a pair in two innings, and fellow left-hander Cam Opp closed things out with two scoreless innings.

Leadoff batter Matt Rudick was 2 for 4 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored.  With seven home runs, Joe Suozzi tied Jaylen Palmer for the team lead.  In his second game with Brooklyn, third baseman William Lugo donned the golden sombrero, going 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.

The win snaps a two-game skid and gets the Cyclones (52-52) back to par.  Hudson Valley defeated Aberdeen to maintain their half-game lead over Brooklyn.  BOXSCORE.

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Hudson Valley

I - HVR 10; BKN 2

II - BKN 6; HVR 2

III - HVR 5; BKN 2

IV - BKN 5; HVR 1

Cyclones Even Series With Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting

Making his fourth start since being promoted from the St. Lucie Mets, right-hander Dominic Hamel 

faced off against Josue Panacual for Hudson Valley.  The pitchers engaged in a scoreless duel through the fifth.  

But after Brooklyn posted a trio of runs, Hamel and the bullpen made them stand.  

Shortstop Shervyen Newton homered leading off the sixth, and Nic Gaddis followed with two runs batted in.  Dominic Hamel completed six innings, allowing a mere four hits and two walks with six strikeouts.  He faced 23 batters, throwing 79 pitches with 52 (65.8%) going for strikes, and improved his record to 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. 

The Cyclones scored twice in the ninth for good measure.  Right fielder Stanley Consuegra and 19-year-old Alex Ramirez each knocked home a run.

Right-hander Oscar Rojas yielded Hudson Valley's first and only tally in the seventh, a solo home run by left fielder Grant Richardson.  Afterwhich, southpaw Nathan Lavender, making his sixth appearance with Brooklyn, secured the final six outs, three via strikeout, for his second save.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series at Wilmington

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 6; BKN 5

II - BKN 4; WIL 2

III - WIL 9; BKN 5

IV - BKN 3; WIL 2

Brooklyn Knots Series with Wilmington at Two Apiece

After falling behind in the first inning, the Cyclones posted three runs in the third.  Afterwhich, it was a matter of holding on, and the pitching was up to the task.

Making his fourth start for Brooklyn, right-hander Mike Vasil has had better days.  He faced 19 batters and threw 86 pitches with 48 (55.8)% going for strikes.  Vasil allowed two earned runs on three hits and five walks with five strikeouts before being removed with two outs in the fourth. 

Also making his fourth appearance, southpaw Nathan Lavender was stellar, yielding no runs on just one hit and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings pitched for the win.  Right-hander Sammy Tavares pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing only a walk with two strikeouts for his fourth save.

All told, the Cyclones limited the Blue Rocks to only four hits and struck out eleven.

Second baseman Justin Herrera, Shervyen Newton, and Matt Rudick drove in a run each.

Brooklyn Cyclones Late Rally Downs Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore

I - BK 10; JS 4

II - JS 8; BK 5

III - JS 2; BK 1

IV - BK 2; JS 1

V - BK 8; JS 4

Ninth Inning Rally Gives Cyclones 3-2 Series Advantage

Things went wildly wrong for Cyclone starter Mike Vasil in the bottom of the first.  A hit by pitch, two hits, and a balk partly helped stake Jersey Shore to an abrupt 4-0 lead.  

Third baseman Warren Saunders homered for Brooklyn leading off the third, and Jose Mena doubled and scored in the fourth.  Afterwhich, the score remained unchanged through the eighth inning.

Jersey Shore would suffer a fielding and battery implosion in the top of the ninth.  Brooklyn scored six runs, five of which were unearned.  Two fielding errors, a catcher's interference call, and a passed ball aided the cause.  Shortstop Branden Fryman and Joe Suozzi each tripled in the inning.  Suozzi accounted for three of Brooklyn's five hits and delivered home three runs.

After the first inning, Brooklyn pitching limited the Blue Claws to just one hit the rest of the way.  Mike Vasil recovered and escaped with a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts through five.  Left-hander Nathan Lavender threw two scoreless innings.  Right-hander Grant Hartwig closed out the game with two scoreless frames and five strikeouts for the win.

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