Brooklyn Cyclones Pitchers Twirl Three-Hitter; Take 3-2 Series Lead Over Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

20th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

REGULAR-SEASON FINALE

JERSEY SHORE @ BROOKLYN

I - BK 5; JS 2

II - JS 4; BK 3

III - JS 8; BK 6

IV - BK 7; JS 4

VI - BK 9; JS 2

David Griffin Hurls a Coney Island Thriller; Bullpen Joins for a Combined Three-Hitter

Brooklyn's penultimate game of the season is a dandy.  Making his seventh start for the Cyclones, right-hander David Griffin hurls an absolute gem against the Blue Claws, limiting them to just two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six innings for the win.  

Griffin faces twenty batters, throwing 89 pitches with 53 (59.5%) going for strikes.  He retires his first eight batters before issuing his first base on balls with two outs in the third.  Griffin then sits down the next five batters.  With two outs in the fifth, Jersey Shore finally wields their first base hit.  Griffin issues his second walk in the sixth but induces the next batter into an inning-ending double-play.  The 24-year old improves to 3-1 as a Cyclone with a declining 4.18 ERA.

In relief of Griffin, Evy Ruibal allows no hits over two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.  However, misfortune befalls Colby Morris, who surrenders an inconsequential two-run home run in the ninth.

Meanwhile, the Cyclones plate nine runs on eleven hits in 34 at-bats (.323) and go 3 for 7 with runners in scoring position.  They draw four walks and whiff nine times.  After two scoreless frames, Coney Island scores in every inning to follow.

FIVE HOME RUNS

The Cyclone's home run barrage begins with Jaylen Palmer's solo shot in the third.  In his eighth game with Brooklyn, Oscar Campos connects for a fourth-inning three-run home run.  In the fifth, second baseman Luke Ritter launches his 14th home run with two runners on.  

Far from done, Francisco Alvarez, in the seventh inning, swats his team-leading 22nd home run this season for Brooklyn and his 24th overall.

Lastly, Mr. Excitment himself, Wilmer Reyes, hits a solo shot in the eighth en route to a 9-2 victory over the Jersey Shore Blue Claws.  Reyes, through eight games, is batting .406 (13/32) with a 1.039 OPS.

Brooklyn takes a 3-2 series lead.  The final game of a very intriguing 2021 regular season draws to a close Sunday at Coney Island.

Aberdeen Ironbirds Salvage Finale; Brooklyn Cyclones Still Take Series , 4-3

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

ABERDEEN @ BROOKLYN

I - BRK 9; ABD 6

II - ABD 2; BRK 1

III - BRK 1; ABD 0

IV - ABD 12; BRK 5

V - BRK 6; ABD 4

VI - BRK 4; ABD 1

VII - ABD 5; BRK 1

Cyclones Bats Go Silent in Finale Against Ironbirds

Making his 18th start for Brooklyn, Jaison Vilera gets himself into trouble right away, issuing a pair of leadoff walks which Aberdeen converts into a run.  The Ironbirds post two more in the second; after surrendering a leadoff double, catcher Willy Yahn connects off Vilera for a home run.  

Jaison Vilera exits on the losing side of a 3-0 affair after yielding five hits and four walks in just 3.1 innings pitched.

Aberdeen scores single runs against Colby Morris in the fifth and Michel Otanez in the eighth innings. Still, they're unnecessary as the Cyclones are limited to just one run in the third on Cody Bohanek's sixth home run this season.

In a somewhat familiar script this season, the Cyclones are limited to just four hits and work out only three walks while striking out a dozen times.

How many times have I said that before ...

Shortstop Ronny Mauricio (2) and Oscar Campos account for Brooklyn's three other hits.

Three Aberdeen pitchers join together for twelve strikeouts and six scoreless innings after the third.  Southpaw Jake Prizina earns the win, Adam Stauffer the save.

Brooklyn nonetheless wins the series against Aberdeen, four games to three.

The Cyclones next host the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Tuesday at Coney Island.  BOXSCORE