Brooklyn Cyclones: Hansel Robles Shuts Out Renegades; Game Two In Hudson Valley

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

2012

New York Penn League Playoffs

Division Semi Finals

 

FRIDAY FINAL:

Hudson Valley   0

BROOKLYN     4

 

 

Brooklyn Leads Series 1-0

Game Two @ Hudson Valley

*Game Three @ Hudson Valley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Seaside Sluggers Take Opening Game

Behind Hansel Robles Gem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hansel Robles struck out the first Renegade batter he faced.  Hudson Valley's number two batter ruined the no-hitter post haste with an unmanly single, but was erased when the following batter grounded into a 1-6-3 double play.  Hansel cruised from there.  Over the next eight innings, all Hudson Valley managed were three more scattered hits.  Hansel Robles additionally issued no walks.  In fact, the New York Penn League regular season leader in WHiP went on to retire the side in order in the second, third, fourth, sixth, and ninth innings of Friday night's playoff opener.

 

Hansel Robles warms up in right field with catcher, Kevin Plawecki,

before heading into the bullpen with pitching coach Marc Valdez.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Pitch.

 

 

After striking out the first batter of the game as noted, Robles went on to strikeout nine more giving  him ten for the night.  Brooklyn's hurler basically turned in one of the more dominating playoff performances you will ever see a professional pitcher have at any level.  And he did so against the team which outpaced the Cyclones for the division title.  His effort was also one for the books.  For Friday evening, Hansel Robles brokered a one game series lead against the Hudson Valley Renegades, after pitching the first complete game shutout in Brooklyn Cyclones playoff history.

Brandon Nimmo led off the bottom half of the first inning with a single.  Next up, Dimas Ponce got plunked in the back by Hudson Valley starter, Jesse Hahn.  With runners now on first and second,  Phillip Evans grounded into a double play.  Brandon Nimmo advanced to third base on the play.  Nimmo then scored on a Jayce Boyd single.

In the second inning, the Renegades defense faltered.  Stefan Sabol led off with a single then advanced to second base on a throwing error.  On Juan Carlos Gamboa's attempted sacrifice bunt, Hudson Valley's starting pitcher, Jesse Hahn, fielded, then also threw an errant ball to first base setting up runners at the corners.  After Eudy Pina struck out, Jorge Rivero doubled to score Sabol, and send Gamboa to third.  Jesse Hahn then issued an intentional walk to Brandon Nimmo loading 'em up, thus setting a force play at any base.  Brooklyn thwarted that strategy.  A Dimas Ponce single scored Gamboa.  With the bases still loaded, Phillip Evans stepped in and punched another single.  The bases again remained loaded for Jayce Boyd and Kevin Plawecki.  But they combined to record outs two and three, ending the rally.  With three runs in however, the Cyclones led by a 4-0 score.  Afterwards, the game was all about Hansel Robles and his mastery over the Hudson Valley Renegades.

 

Brandon Nimmo leads of game with a single; left.

Dimas Ponce takes his base after getting hit by pitch; right.

 

 

 

 

With the bases loaded, Phillip Evans set runners in motion again with a second inning single.

 

 

 

The Cyclones are headed to Fishkill, N.Y. where they'll now play the Renegades on their turf.  If weather holds up, Game Two is slated for  Saturday evening.  If Game Three becomes necessary, Hudson Valley will host.

The Cyclones improved their all-time playoff record to a 12-17 mark.  This was Brooklyn's eighth overall victory against the Renegades this season, versus just three losses.  Game Two's pitching match up will pit Brooklyn's Luis Mateo against Hudson Valley's Jeff Ames.  Luis Mateo was this season's New York Penn League strikeout king.  Renegades hurler Jeff Ames was one of only four NYPL pitchers to maintain a year long ERA below two.

 

 

 

 

Mets Number One Draft Pick - Brooklyn Cyclones Center Fielder

BRANDON NIMMO

 

Brandon was kind enough to autograph my program.

 

 

 

 

 

Mets #1 Draft Pick, 35th Overall,

Brooklyn Catcher - Kevin Plawecki

 

 

 

Home of the Surf Avenue Sluggers

 

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Defeat Spinners; Take Lead In Wild Card Race

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

 

WILD CARD STANDINGS:

Brooklyn.....45-29         *

Batavia.......44-30; 1 GB

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Back In Front With Two Games Left In Regular Season.  Seaside Sluggers Magic Number = Two.

Batavia finally lost for the first time in ten games.  Potentially, the Cyclones finally got the break they have been looking for.  In early Labor Day action, the Muckdogs lost to the Auburn Doubledays by a 5-3 score.  As a result, Auburn retakes a one game lead in the Pickney Division over Batavia.  That left the 'Dogs waiting around for the late game final out of Brooklyn.


Would the Cyclones take advantage of Monday's early development?  Under the threat of rain, the game in Coney Island started on time.  On the mound, Luis Cessa started for Brooklyn against Lowell's Francellis Montas.


Cyclones fans were hoping the first inning was not an omen of things to come.  Francellis Montas struck out the side, with all three batters swinging at strike three.  Back to back singles to lead off the second inning however, quickly calmed those fears.  The Brooks couldn't take advantage though.  Both base runners were stranded.


Each team scored in the fourth inning.  An RBI single by Jake Davies put Lowell on the board.  In the bottom half of the inning, Francellis Montas was pulled from the game after surrendering a single to Kevin Plawecki, and issuing a walk to Nelfi Zapata.  With two outs, the Spinners called on Francisco Tavares for relief.  A single by Juan Carlos Gamboa scored Plawecki from third to tie the game at one.


Brooklyn took a 2-1 lead in the fifth.  Kevin Plawecki's third hit of the game knocked in Dimas Ponce with the go ahead run.


Through eight innings, the Cyclones accumulated ten hits against Lowell pitching.  However, they only had the two runs to show for it.  That was okay, because Brooklyn's hurler, Luis Cessa, was still cruising late in the game.  He retired the side in order in the first, third, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings.  He allowed four scattered hits, and surrendered the one run back in the fourth.  Luis issued one walk and struck out one to that point


In the bottom of the eighth, Brooklyn increased their lead.  They loaded the bases with one out.  Brandon Nimmo's grounder forced the lead runner at home for out number two.  Lowell's Francisco Tavares, who was in his fourth inning of relief, then walked Dimas Ponce to force in Brooklyn's third run.  Phillip Evans followed, and delivered another insurance run with a single.


As he pitched so efficiently throughout the game, Coach Donnelly sent Luis Cessa out for the ninth inning.  The first batter he faced doubled.  After striking out his second batter of the game, and a 5-3 put out, a single set up a first and third situation.  That's when Coach Donnelly ascended from the dugout to go remove his starting pitcher.  In relief, Tyler Vanderheiden secured the last out of the game to preserve Brooklyn's 4-1 victory.


Vanderheiden earned his twelfth save of the season.  After a brilliant performance, Luis Cessa improved his won/loss record to 5-4, and lowered his ERA to a 2.49 mark.  The heart of Brooklyn's line-up; Phillip Evans, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki; combined on nine hits in fourteen at-bats.


The Brooklyn Cyclones lead the Wild Card race again by one full game.  Two more remain on the schedule.  Their magic number is two.  Should Brooklyn defeat Lowell Tuesday evening, coupled with another Muckdogs loss, the Cyclones would clinch the Wild Card.  Otherwise, this race may very well get decided on the last day of the regular season.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Yanks Invade Coney For Last Battle Between the Boroughs

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS - IV

 

The Final Showdown

 

 

CYCLONES LEAD SERIES 2-0

I - BK 5; S.I. 1

II - BK 3; S.I. 2

III - Sunday

 

Cyclones Lead Season Series 8-5

 

 

 

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  No Division Title For You.

 

CYCLONES AND MUCKDOGS FANS GUARANTEED A WILD FINISH

 

 

Facing a must win situation with only four games left in the regular season, the Seaside Sluggers defeated the Yankees 3-2 Saturday evening, thus maintaining their precarious one game Wild Card lead over the hard charging Batavia Muckdogs.  For Brooklyn, the Wild Card is the only race left.  Despite winning Saturday night, the Hudson Valley Renegades also won; defeating the Aberdeen Iron Birds; to finally outpace the Cyclones and clinch the 2012 McNamara Division pennant.

On a slightly different front, Brooklyn also gained victory Saturday night in the Battle of the Borough's last engagement on Richmond County soil.  The season's final contest between the Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees will be played today, Sunday afternoon, in Coney Island.  The greater city face-off however, is already won.  To the Cyclones, go the spoils.  In thirteen games played to date, the Brooks own an 8-5 record over their outer Borough rivals.


In the Ballpark at St. George, a crowd just shy of 5,000 watched their Bombers get shutout over eight innings.  Cyclones starter, Julian Hilario, completed 6.1 innings of stellar work.  He allowed four scattered hits and only issued one walk.  He struck out seven batters before handing the ball off to reliever Beck Wheeler with one out in the seventh inning.  Wheeler secured the last two outs without harm.  Replacing Beck Wheeler, Matthew Koch kept Staten Island scoreless in the eighth inning.


Brooklyn scored single runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings.  Brandon Nimmo crushed his sixth home run of the season; a solo shot; in the third.  With the bases loaded in the sixth, Kevin Plawecki scored from third base on a wild pitch.  Malkis De La Cruz led off the seventh inning with a double, and scored on Phillip Evans' RBI single, giving the Cyclones their 3-0 lead.


Into the ninth they went.  Matt Koch returned to the hill and immediately surrendered lead-off back to back doubles.  Confusion on the base paths kept runners at second and third however.  But that mattered not.  Matt Koch was pulled in favor of closer Tyler Vanderheiden.  The first batter Tyler faced, Daniel Lopez, singled to drive both base runners home, and get the Yankees within a run.  Vanderheiden then surrendered a second consecutive single.  Then out came Coach Donnelly; there went Tyler Vanderheiden; and in came John Mincone to put out the fire.  With the tying run at third base, Mincone struck out his first batter, and induced a pop-up from the last Yankees batter of the game.


John Mincone chalked up his sixth save of the season.  Starter Julian Hilario improved his won/loss record to a 4-4 mark.  Overall, Brooklyn pitching limited Staten Island to two hits in twelve at bats with runners in scoring position.  For the game, nine Staten Island hits equalled Brooklyn.


Including today, Brooklyn will have the benefit of playing their final four regular season games on  Steeplechase grounds.  After today's series finale against the Yankees, the Boardwalk Bums will end the season versus the Lowell Spinners.  Batavia will stay home to host the Auburn Doubledays for two games, then end the season with a pair of home and home contests versus the Jamestown Jammers.


To reiterate, Brooklyn has a one game lead over the Batavia Muckdogs in the Wild Card race, with only four games remaining in the regular season.  The race for the McNamara Division title is over.  Hudson Valley clinched.

Let's Go Cyclones!

** Yankees Graffiti; The Smart Crew - Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Saturday Night Winner

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

 

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

I - S.I. 5; BK 1

II - BK 11; S.I. 0

III - Sunday

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bums Gain Split on Home Turf.


The Yankees and Cyclones shifted to Coney Island for Game Two of the Battle of the Boroughs.  After dropping a tough game in Staten Island to the Bombers Friday night, the Cyclones jumped out to a first inning 1-0 lead on Saturday.  With one out, Dimas Ponce and Phillip Evans hit consecutive singles.  After Eudy Pina reached safely on an E-6 to load the bases, Kevin Plawecki's sac fly scored Ponce from third.


In the fifth inning, Brandon Nimmo's RBI double and Phillip Evans' RBI single gave Brooklyn a 3-0 lead.


The Cyclones finally knocked Staten Island starter Gabriel Encinas out of the box after 6.1 innings pitched.  But what Brooklyn started against Encinas, Staten Island reliever, Zach Woods, had an even tougher time finishing.  Brooklyn lowered the hammer on the Bombers with eight runs in the seventh inning, similar to the way Staten Island pulled away from Brooklyn late in Friday's game.  In all, Encinas was charged with six runs; five earned; before being removed.  Zach Woods surrendered another five runs, but none earned, even though Brooklyn's Jeff Reynolds tagged Woods for his second home run of the season.


Brooklyn starting pitcher, Hansel Robles, pitched seven full innings, and improved his record to a 5-1 mark.  He only allowed three hits and no runs.  He walked one batter, and struck out eight before giving way to Logan Taylor, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning.  Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the ninth inning, and closed out the Cyclones 11-0 combined three-hit, shutout victory.


You might want to put the celebration on hold however.  Brooklyn received no help.  In Batavia, the visiting Williamsport Crosscutters made their game close with a three run rally in the eighth inning.  But the Crosscutters never managed to push a tying run across the plate. The Muckdogs held on to post a 6-5 final.  Batavia remains three games behind the Cyclones in the Wild Card standings.


In Hudson Valley, the Renegades pulled out a 7-6 win.  They needed eleven innings to do it.  Their victory keeps them six games ahead of the second place Cyclones in the McNamara Division race.


Eleven games remain in the regular season.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Take Series from Vermont Lake Monsters

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Take Rubber Game From Monsters.  Remain Three Games Back Of First Place; Wild Card Lead is Five Games.


Monday Night Baseball in Vermont - Contain yourselves.  In the rubber game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Lake Champlain Sea Monsters, Coney Island starter Julian Hilario continued a string of scoreless innings pitched, that effectively started Saturday night in the eighth inning of a 4-1 loss.  But in game two of this series played Sunday, Hansel Robles started on the hill, and four Cyclones relievers combined to shutout the Vermont Lake Monsters,, and limit them to three hits all game.


In Monday night's game, Julian Hilario kept the Monsters hitless through the first two innings, and scoreless through the first three innings.


Back in the second inning, Brooklyn staked Hilario to a 4-0 lead.  Juan Carlos Gamboa reached on a two base E-6 to open the doors.  Nelfi Zapata singled, sending Gamboa to third.  Batting ninth in the order, Eudy Pina then stepped in with one out, and crushed his fifth home run of the season.  Brandon Nimmo followed with a single, and was driven home with a two out RBI single by Phillip Evans.  And with that, Vermont's starter, Nolan Sanburn, was directed towards the showers.


In the fourth inning, Vermont managed their second hit off Julian Hilario.  And in the fifth, well..., Vermont's Tyler Vail, struck out the side....that's what happened.  But in the bottom of the fifth, the Monsters put together two hits, and had a runner from third base cut down at the plate on a play scored 5-3-2 to end the inning.  That play brought Julian Hilario's shutout effort to five innings, and Brooklyn's streak of scoreless innings pitched against Vermont this series, to fourteen.


After Brandon Nimmo drew a one-out walk in the sixth, Phillip Evans drove him home yet again with his third single of the game, giving Brooklyn a 5-0 lead.  Except for an inconsequential single, Julian Hilario retired Vermont quietly again in the bottom of the sixth inning.


In the seventh inning, the scoreless innings streak ended at 15.2 innings.  But that came against reliever Logan Taylor; not Julian Hilario.  Coach Donnelly decided the Cyclones' starter's night was through.  He pitched six full innings, allowing five scattered hits.  He walked three, and struck out four batters before giving way to the bullpen.


In the bottom of the seventh, Vermont scored after Phillip Evans committed a one-out error at shortstop.  Then a two out triple delivered that runner home.  Taylor Logan completed his second inning of work.  In all, he allowed two hits and an unearned run.  He walked one, and struck out four.


Against Vermont's fourth pitcher of the evening, Ryan Dull, the Coney Island Nine picked up an insurance run in the ninth.  Stefan Sabol connected on his fifth home run of the season, to give the Brooks a 6-1 lead.


In the Monster's last licks, they faced Brooklyn's Tyler Vanderheiden.  For a brief moment, things went awry.  Another E-6 by Phillip Evans was followed by consecutive wild pitches by Vanderheiden.  A single then drove home Vermont's second run of the game, but nothing more.  The Cyclones win the third game of the series by a 6-2 score, and take two of three from the Lake Monsters.


The Batavia Muckdogs and Hudson Valley Renegades were also winners tonight.  So we end the night as things were, when we started.  The Brooklyn Cyclones (37-23) trail the first place Hudson Valley Renegades (40-20) in the McNamara Division by three games.  In the Wild Card race, the Cyclones hold a five game lead over the Batavia Muckdogs.  Sixteen games remain in the Cyclones' regular season.


Next stop - Coney Island, where the Cyclones will host the top team in the circuit; the Stedler Division leading Tri City Valley Cats.




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

BKN Cyclones ~ Sweep... and Away!

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  After Taking Three Straight From the Doubledays, and Reducing Hudson Valley's Lead to One Game, The Surf Avenue Sluggers Are Heading to Lowell.


Sweep....and away!  The Coney Island Nine completed a three game sweep of the Auburn Doubledays today in a matinee game by the beach, and are now off to Lowell, Massachusetts, where they will take on the Lowell Spinners.  Monday's win also allowed the Cyclones to chip away another half-game away from Hudson Valley's McNamara Division lead.  Brooklyn brought the margin down to a single game, but the Renegades still play Monday evening.


Rainy Lara started for the Cyclones Monday and stayed strong through six full innings.  But  Brooklyn's bullpen was even stronger.  Auburn opened the game with three consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs against Lara.  A six-to-three fielder's choice, plated Auburn's first and only run of the game.  Rainy Lara then proceeded to keep the Doubledays very quiet over the next five innings.  He surrendered five hits in all, and allowed one earned run.  He walked none, struck out three, and lowered his season ERA to a 2.56 mark.  Rainy Lara is now 6-1 this season.


After Rainy Lara, Brooklyn's bullpen assumed full control.  Logan Taylor, Beck Wheeler, and David Wynn were all charged with pitching an inning apiece.  The three combined to allow no hits, no walks, and struck out six batters.  David Wynn earned his first save of the season.  For the game, Cyclones pitching walked no batters and struck out a total of nine.


Brooklyn turned up the power and finally got on the scoreboard with two runs in the fourth inning.  Kevin Plawecki (3) and Stefan Sabol (4) crushed back-to-back home runs, giving the Cyclones a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.  The Brooks scored a third time in the fifth.  After Dimas Ponce was hit by a pitch leading off, he left the game for a pinch-runner.  Richie Rodriguez and Eudy Pina then followed with consecutive singles to load the bases.  Pinch runner Jeff Reynolds came home on Phillip Evans' sac-fly to center field, to give the Cyclones a 3-1 lead, and the game.


Brandon Nimmo did not play in Monday's game.  And Phillip Evans committed two errors in the field.


With Monday's victory, starting pitcher Rainy Lara is now tied for the New York Penn League lead in wins with six.  Rainy's 0.33 WHIP is also tied for fourth best in the league with his teammate, Gabriel Ynoa.  As a matter of fact, Brooklyn pitchers dominate with four of the best seven WHIPs in the circuit.  What's more, the league sports a circuit low .213 batting average against Cyclones' pitching, and their staff ERA is second only to that of the Tri Citi Valley Cats by two points.  Brooklyn also owns the league high with six combined shut-outs pitched.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brandon Nimmo Thriving in Lead-Off Spot

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Coney Island Nine Take Opening Game Versus Auburn Doubledays.  Remain Two Games Behind Hudson Valley Renegades.  Johan Santana Scheduled to Make Rehab Appearance Sunday.

The Cyclones started this home stand by taking two of three games from the Connecticut Tigers.  They took the rubber game Friday evening led by the pitching of starter Luis Cessa, and relievers, Matthew Bowman, and John Mincone.  The three combined on nine innings, and allowed two hits all game.  Luis Cessa surrendered those two hits.  He pitched five full, walked none and struck out four before leaving the game on the winning side of a 3-0 lead.  Matthew Bowman then pitched three masterful innings in relief, allowing no hits, issuing no walks, while striking out three batters.  John Mincone tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.


The Cyclones scored all their three runs in the first inning.  Brandon Nimmo and Phillip Evans led off with back to back doubles to open the scoring.  Then with two outs, Stefan Sabol smashed his third home run of the season to give Brooklyn their 3-0 lead, and eventual final.


On Saturday, Brooklyn welcomed the Auburn Doubledays to the park at Coney Island and continued right along with their strong pitching.  Hansel Robles was the night's starter and gained his third victory of the season against just one loss.  For seven full innings, Hansel pitched three hit baseball, while allowing Auburn just one unearned run set up by a Dimas Ponce error in the sixth inning.  Otherwise, Brooklyn's starting pitcher was superb in issuing no walks and striking out eight batters.


Paul Sewald pitched the eighth inning and got touched for two hits, but nothing more.  Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the ninth inning to notch his eighth save of the season.


Brooklyn scored a run in the first, and the game stayed that way through the next four innings.  Brandon Nimmo led off Brooklyn's first at-bat with a double, and later came around to score on a passed ball, to give Coney Island a 1-0 lead.


Auburn tied the game in the sixth, but after a good stretch, Brooklyn came back with three runs in the seventh inning.  After Dimas Ponce led off the inning with a double, three straight walks gave the Cyclones a 2-1 lead.  With the bases still loaded and one out, Brandon Nimmo scored on a sac-fly off the bat of Kevin Plawecki.  Then Alexander Sanchez singled to drive in the third run of the inning.


And that's how this one ended, with a 4-1 final score.


Brandon Nimmo continues to excel in the lead-off spot.  In Saturday's game, he was 2 for 4, with two doubles, and two runs scored.  He now has five hits in eleven at-bats during the home stand.  And since being inserted into the lead-off spot ten games ago, Brandon Nimmo is seventeen of forty-one; good for a .415 batting average.  He has now elevated his season batting average to a .271 mark.  That's significant considering on July 25th, after game one of this last ten game stretch, he took a .229 batting average home with him.


The Cyclones (28-17) are 7-3 in their last ten games.  But so is Hudson Valley.  The first place Renegades (30-16) continue to set the pace while Brooklyn remains two games behind in the McNamara Division standings.


On Sunday, Johan Santana is scheduled to make a short rehab appearance in Coney Island for the Cyclones, as he works towards taking the mound again for the Mets by next Thursday or Friday.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brooks Take Staten Island in Twelve; Keep Hold on First

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Battle of the Boroughs - II

Brooklyn and Staten Island Tie Series 2-2

BK 1; S.I. 0

S.I. 4; BK 2

S.I. 3; BK 1

BK 2; S.I. 1

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Surf Avenue Sluggers Keep a Hold On First Place; Gain Series Split Versus Yankees.


They went into the ninth inning tied at one apiece.  The visiting Staten Island Yankees' starter, Corey Black, tossed six innings, surrendering only a run to Brooklyn on six hits, and only one walk.  He struck out six before giving way to the bullpen.  Then Yankees' Josh Romanski tossed a scoreless seventh inning, and Dietrich Enns pitched the eighth without harm.

For the Cyclones, Hansel Robles was making his sixth start of the season, and looking for his third win.  But after pitching eight superb innings, he left to a no decision.  He allowed Staten Island six hits, one walk, and limited them to one run, while striking out a season high nine batters.

The Surf Avenue Sluggers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth.  After Dimas Ponce led off with a double and was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple, Phillip Evans followed with another double.  Alexander Sanchez then hit the third double of the inning off Corey Black to drive home Evans.  The Bombers finally tied the game in the seventh off Robles.  Jose Rosario doubled home Matt Snyder with the tying run.

John Mincone took over for Hansel Robles and pitched a scoreless ninth inning.  Mariel Checo; Staten Island's fourth pitcher; was called upon to pitch the home ninth against the Brooks.  He kept them scoreless, striking out two, to send the game into extra-innings for the second time this series.

Mincone retired the Yanks in order in the tenth.  But in the bottom half of the inning, Mariel Checo pitched himself into, then out of trouble.  Eudy Pina led off the home tenth with a single.  A sacrifice bunt and an E-3 moved him to third base.  Checo then intentionally walked the bases loaded.  Kevin Plawecki followed with a fly-out to center but with no advancement of the runners.  Alexander Sanchez then ended the threat with a grounder to second.

In his third inning of work, John Mincone faced the minimum in the eleventh.  Charles Basford relieved Mariel Checo for the Bombers, who set the Cyclones down quietly.  Then Brooklyn's Tyler Vanderheiden was brought into the game to pitch the twelfth inning of play.  He escaped a first and third situation with two outs, and struck out Exicardo Cayones swinging to stop the Yanks cold.

In the bottom of the twelfth with Charles Basford pitching, Brooklyn's Dimas Ponce singled with one out.  Kevin Plawecki hit a two out single that moved Ponce to third base.  Then Alexander Sanchez finally drove home the game winning run with an RBI single to center field.


After some superb relief work out of John Mincone, and a stellar eight inning starting performance from Hansel Robles, Tyler Vanderheiden earned his first win in relief this season, off one inning of work and walking two batters.  Hey, it's like that sometimes.  Staten Island's Charles Bradford gets credited with the loss.  Bradford is now 0-2 this season.


The Brooklyn Cyclones earned a split in the second installment of the Battle of the Boroughs.  Games One and Four were both won by the Cyclones in extra innings.  Thursday night's Game One was a fifteen inning affair.  Overall, the Cyclones lead the season series against Staten Island five games to three.


Brooklyn needed this win to keep pace with the Hudson Valley Renegades, who won their game 8-2 over the Aberdeen Iron Birds.  The two teams are now tied for the McNamara Division lead with identical 21-13 records.  Staten Island is next, trailing Brooklyn and Hudson Valley by seven games, and now sport a 14-20 season record.


The Cyclones' win also gets them one game (9-8) over the .500 mark at home.  The Cyclones will host Aberdeen for two games before hitting the road for a pair of series against Batavia and Mahoning Valley.  The Cyclones have played very well on the road and will look to improve their 12-5 mark away from Coney Island.  But first, they'll look to gain some separation from the Renegades by taking on the McNamara Division's last place club in the Iron Birds.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ The Brooks Fend Off Renegades For Sweep

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Seaside Sluggers Sweep Series Over Hudson Valley Rivals.  Open Up Three Game Lead in McNamara Division.


In the third and final game of this home-and-home series, Hansel Robles started against Hudson Valley.  Jeff Ames started for the Renegades.  For the Cyclones, they had an opportunity to open a three game lead over their second place rivals.  For Hudson Valley, a chance to salvage a game in this series, and close to within a game of the Cyclones again.

Brooklyn struck first.  Brandon Nimmo's third inning sac-fly scored Jonathan Clark for the first run of the game.  Phillip Evens followed with an RBI double.  And Cole Frenzel gave Brooklyn a 3-0 lead with an RBI single.  But in the bottom half of the third, Hudson Valley struck back.  With two outs, the Renegades mounted a three run rally to tie the game at three.

Hudson Valley went up by a run in the fifth and effectively ended Hansel Robles' night.  The Brooklyn starter pitched five full, allowed four earned runs on six hits.  He walked one and struck out one.  His ERA ballooned from 0.84 before this game, to a 2.87 mark after.

Matthew Bowman took over for Hansel Robles in the sixth, and Rob Finneran followed Jeff Ames for the Renegades.  After a scoreless sixth inning, trouble came Hudson Valley's way in the top of the seventh, when Cyclones' Dimas Ponce scored on an E-6 to tie the game at five apiece.  Then with two outs, Cole Frenzel singled home the go ahead run against Finneran.  But not so fast.  Stubbornly, once again the Renegades tied the game at five in their home half of the seventh.

Brooklyn mustered one last rally off the third Renegades pitcher, Jose Molina, in the eighth.  Nelfi Zapata walked, and Jonathan Clark singled.  After a sacrifice bunt moved them over, Juan Carlos Gamboa singled home Zapata.  Brandon Nimmo reached safely on an E-3, and Clark scored on the play, giving Brooklyn a 7-5 lead, and an eventual final.  Paul Seward pitched the eighth and ninth innings for Brooklyn, and earned his first save.  Matt Bowman was credited with the win.

With this victory, the Cyclones sweep the series, and establish a three game lead over the Hudson Valley Renegades in the McNamara Division standings.

Next up on the schedule, the Williamsport Crosscutters come to Coney Island for a 4th of July three game series.





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 ~ Brooks Halt Two Game Skid in Aberdeen

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Brooks Ground Iron Birds to Gain Series Split.  Rubber Game Today.

Game One; Cyclones' First Road Trip Starts With a Loss
Brooklyn Takes Three of Four From Defending Champs


Halt that losing streak at two please - Thank you.  The final score in Aberdeen was 7-1 in Game Two of a weekend series against the Iron Birds.


Rainy Lara continued a string of strong Cyclones' starting pitching to begin the season.  Brooklyn's hurler tossed five innings of two hit, scoreless, baseball.  He walked two and struck out four, before giving way to the bullpen.  Juan Urbina pitched the next three innings.  He allowed one earned run and three hits.  He walked one and struck out four.  David Wynn then pitched a scoreless ninth, in a non-save situation.

Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Plawecki both had two RBI each, and Phillip Evans hit his second home run in as many games.  Kevin Plawecki also connected with his first home run.  Five of the Cyclones' seven runs came on two out hits.

A packed house in Aberdeen watched Brooklyn gain a split in the series.  Game Three will be Sunday afternoon.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Take Three of Four from Defending Champs

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Brooklyn Wins Series 3-1

I  -  BK 2; SI 0

II  -  BK 4; SI 1

III  -  BK 7; SI 2

IV  -  SI 8; BK 1

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Brooks Win Opening Series 3-1.  Staten Island Wins First Game in Final Try.

Kids of Summer Outlast Yanks on Opening Day
Brooks Dump On Staten Island's Home Opener


After the Brooklyn Cyclones denied the Baby Bombers their first home victory in two tries, the Staten Island Yankees avoided an Opening Day four game series sweep by taking Thursday evening's final game in Coney Island.  Brooklyn outscored the Yanks by a 13-3 margin over the first three games.  But Staten Island unloaded against the Brooks for an 8-1 win; their first of the season.

Hansel Robles started on the mound for Brooklyn, and pitched rather brilliantly. Over five full innings, he allowed one earned run on four hits.  He walked one and struck out seven.  Once out of the game, the Yanks started to make their way against Richard Ruff.  The first man out of the 'Clones' pen walked three and allowed a run in one inning of work.  Coach Donnelly then called on Beck Wheeler.  He fared worse.  Wheeler surrendered four earned runs while unable to complete a full inning.

The Cyclones' lone run came in the seventh, on Phillip Evans' first home run of the season.

Brooklyn visits the Aberdeen Iron Birds this weekend.




Mike.BTB