Brooklyn Cyclones Win 2019 New York Penn League Championship

From the desk of: McNAMARA DIVISION & NYPL CHAMPIONS

NEW YORK PENN LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Brooklyn Defeats Lowell; 2-1

I - BRK 2; LOW 1

II - LOW 3; BRK 1

III - BRK 4; LOW 3

BROOKLYN WINS FIRST UNDISPUTED BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SINCE 1955

It's been 18-years since the Cyclones completed their inaugural season at Coney Island.  It was a magical summer of baseball by the beach.  One I'll never forget.  For the first time since 1957 a professional baseball team called Brooklyn home.

The opening day line-up remains vivid in my mind.  The Cyclones post a team record and league best 52-24 record en route to capturing their first ever McNamara Division flag.  In their first ever post-season catcher Brett Kay's late inning home run in game three against the Staten Island Yankees clinches Brooklyn's first round victory and an improbable berth in the New York Penn League championship series.

Brooklyn defeats the Crosscutters in game one at Williamsport.  Game two is scheduled for Tuesday evening, September 11, at Coney Island.  However the horrific events and national tragedy which unfold that very morning force a cancellation of the series.  The New York Penn League declares the Brooklyn Cyclones and Williamsport Crosscutters co-champions of the 2001 season.

Brooklyn and Williamsport meet again in the 2003 championship series.  This time the Crosscutters sweep the Cyclones in two.  Four years later Coney loses two straight against the Auburn Doubledays.  They earn a third trip back to the championship series in 2010 only to be swept yet again by the Tri-City Valley Cats.

In 2012 the Cyclones lose a first round playoff series against the Hudson Valley Renegades, then fail to qualify for post-season play through the next six seasons.

In his third season as manager, Edgardo Alfonzo leads the Cyclones to their second straight 40-win season.  With a series sweep over the Yankees on the final weekend of the regular season Brooklyn (43-32) finishes tied for the league's best record with Hudson Valley.  But through virtue of the tie breaker Brooklyn claims their sixth ever McNamara Division title.  The Cyclones go on to defeat the Hudson Valley Renegades in the first round two games against one.

ICYMI

Cyclones Defeat Renegades; Earn Trip Back to Championship Series

On Sunday Sept. 8, the Cyclones win their first championship series game since 2001 with a 2-1 victory over the Spinners at Lowell.  After losing game two on Monday, the Cyclones answer back with a title clinching 4-3 comeback victory on Tuesday at Coney Island.  It's the Cyclones first undisputed championship in their 19-year history.

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019

CYCLONES STARTER NATHAN JONES TAKES HIS WARM-UPS

The Mets  2019 fifth round draft pick yields two runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks with one strikeout through three innings pitched.  He faces 14 batters while throwing 55 pitches with 31 going for strikes.  He exits to a no decision.

BOTTOM FIRST

With Brett Baty (walk) and Ranfy Adon (double) in scoring position,
Jake Mangum (above) strokes a two-out single through the right side scoring Baty.
Then with runners on the corners Antoine Duplantis (below) grounds to second;
Adon scores on the play giving Brooklyn an early 2-0 first inning lead.

THIRD INNING

With two outs in the top of the third, Nathan Jones issues a walk to Spinners right fielder Nick Decker and a single to second baseman Cameron Cannon.  Lowell first baseman Joe Davis then slashes a hit down the right field line scoring both runners knotting the game at two; Ranfy Adon is charged with a throwing error on the play.  With two outs in the bottom of the third, Lowell starter Jay Groome (pictured above) exits to a no decision.

TOP SEVENTH

With Mitch Ragan pitching in relief of Matthew Allan, Lowell designated hitter
Marino Campana (above) homers to left giving the Spinners a 3-2 lead.

BOTTOM SEVENTH

Antoine Duplantis (above) stands on third base after his game tying triple to right; Jake Mangum scores.  Yoel Romero (below) stands at first base under a Coney Island moon after his base hit to left plates Duplantis with the go ahead run.

TOP NINTH

Manager Alfonzo sends Andrew Edwards back to the mound for a second inning of relief.   He yields a lead-off hit to third baseman Nicholas Northcut.  After striking out Marino Campana, he walks pinch hitter Jaxx Groshans on four pitches.  Edwards regroups to strikeout left fielder Stephen Scott.  Then with two outs and two runners on base Lowell sends up pinch hitter Alex Erro who strikeouts swinging (pictured above) on three pitches.

THIS IS NEXT YEAR!!

NEW YORK PENN LEAGUE

Brooklyn Cyclones Earn Trip Back to Championship Series

From the desk of: THE McNAMARA DIVISION CHAMPIONS

NEW YORK PENN LEAGUE
SEMIFINALS

Cyclones defeat Renegades 2-1

I - HVR 5; BRK 4

II - BRK 1; HVR 0

GAME THREE

Hudson Valley Renegades  3

Brooklyn Cyclones              4

FINAL

Hurricane Dorian Darkened Skies Over MCU Park

PRE-GAME MEETING AT HOME PLATE

Renegades manager Blake Butera and Cyclones manager Edgardo Alfonzo 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

MATT CLEVELAND TAKES HIS WARM-UPS

FIRST PITCH

Hudson Valley wastes no time stirring up trouble against Cyclones starter Matt Cleveland, who surrenders two earned runs on two hits (home run by right fielder Hill Alexander), with two walks and one strikeout through 1.1 innings.  Dan Goggin (below) enters the game in relief of Cleveland in the second, and yields another earned run on two hits and no walks with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.

DAN GOGGIN ENTERS GAME IN RELIEF OF CLEVELAND 

CYCLONES TIE THE GAME IN THE FOURTH AT THREE

The Cyclones tie the game at three on Luke Ritter's RBI sac-fly scoring Antoine Duplantis in the first and Ranfy Adon's home run leading off the third inning.  After which Jake Mangum singles and comes around to score on a pair of passed balls and a throwing error in the fourth.

CYCLONES RALLY IN THE NINTH

Reliever Nick McDonald pitches a scoreless sixth and seventh innings, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts through seven batters faced.  Andrew Edwards enters the game in the eighth.  He faces seven batters and strikes out five through the top of the ninth.

Bottom of the ninth: Cyclones second baseman Yoel Romero stands at second base after drawing a lead-off walk against Renegades reliever Eleardo Cabrera, then being advanced by Jake Ortega's successful sacrifice bunt.  Ranfy Adon stands in at the plate.   

RANFY ADON STROKES A LINER INTO THE RIGHT/CENTER GAP

ROMERO SCORES WINNING RUN AS REST OF

CYCLONES COME POURING OUT OF DUGOUT

CELEBRATION TIME 

AT CONEY ISLAND

Shortstop Wilmer Reyes is 4 for 4 with a run scored.  Ranfy Adon is big man on campus going two for four with a home run leading off the third, and the game winning hit in the ninth.  It was Adon's first home run of the season.  Four Brooklyn pitchers join in allowing Hudson Valley three runs on five hits with three walks and 13 strikeouts.  The Cyclones are headed back to their first NYPL championship series since the 2012 season.  They will face the Lowell Spinners whom defeat the Batavia Muckdogs two games against one.  The finals open Sunday evening at Lowell's LeLacheur Park.

Brooklyn Cyclones Remain Tied For First With Victory at Aberdeen

From the desk of:  

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Wednesday

Brooklyn Cyclones  9

Aberdeen Ironbirds  8

FINAL

What we have here is a classic fight to the finish.  With just five games remaining in the regular season, the tightest division race in the New York Penn League, and the wild card chase for that matter, remain undecided as ever.  On Wednesday Brooklyn defeats the Ironbirds in their series opener at Aberdeen, while the Yankees defeat Hudson Valley in their series opener at Staten Island.  As a result the Cyclones and Hudson Valley Renegades end the night tied for first in the McNamara Division and the wild card race.  Aberdeen now trails both races by one full game, while Staten Island closes to within 1.5 games.

Despite bum rushing the Ironbirds for a 7-0 lead after two and a half innings of play, Brooklyn barely holds on for Wednesday's victory.  While single runs in the fourth and in the eighth cap the Cyclones output at nine, the Irondbirds answer with a trio of runs in the third, four more in the sixth, and one more in the eighth.  But they're never able to push an eighth run across the plate.  Designated hitter Gavin Garay is 3 for 5 with a run scored and two runs batted in.  Ranfy Adon goes 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.  Joe Genord is 1 for 5 with three runs batted in.  Starter Michel Otanez earns his second victory of the season, despite yielding three runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts through five innings.  Reliever Mitch Ragan is roughed up for two runs on four hits in just two innings pitched.  But Nelson Leon pitches the final two innings and fans four in picking up his third save of the season.  The Cyclones ar 7-3 in their last ten games and now join Hudson Valley in the forty victory club.

WEDNESDAY

Hudson Valley Renegades  2

Staten Island Yankees         3

FINAL

At Staten Island, Hudson Valley maintains a 2-0 lead through six innings.  But the Baby Bombers finally break through for a pair in the seventh.  With the bases full catcher Thomas Gallardo scores from third on a sac-fly from third baseman Andres Chaparro, and shortstop Joe Smith scored on an error by Renegades first baseman Jacson McGowan.  Staten Island goes ahead in the eighth when designated hitter Carlos Narvaez leads-off with a double and is replaced with pinch runner Isaiah Pasteur.  After a passed ball advances Pasteur to third, pinch hitter Borinquen Mendez drives him home for a 3-2 Yankees lead, and final score.  Fading fast, Hudson Valley is now 4-6 in their last ten games.

New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones Off to Maryland for Wild Showdown Versus Ironbirds

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones defeat Lake Monsters 2-1

I - BRK 12; VMT 3

II - BRK 2; VMT 0

III - VMT 3; BRK 2

WILD CARD SHOWDOWN

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

ABERDEEN IRONBIRDS

FROM

CAL RIPKEN'S WORLD

Vermont Salvages Victory in Series Finale at Coney Island

Brooklyn designated hitter Gavin Garay's double plates pinch runner Ranfy Adon with the game's tying run in the ninth, and into extra innings they go at MCU Park.  With the obligatory runner stationed at second base starting off the tenth, Vermont's Josh Watson successfully bunts Shane Selman to third.  Then, of all things Cyclones reliever Matt Mullenbach unleashes a wild pitch allowing the go-ahead run to score from third.  The Cyclones are retired in order in the bottom half of the frame ... game over.  Wilmer Reyes goes 2 for 4 with a run batted in, and Gavin Garay is 3 for 4 with a run batted in.  Together they account for five of the Cyclones seven hits.

The other bad news is that Hudson Valley defeats the Connecticut Tigers and retake sole possession of first place.  Otherwise Aberdeen and Staten Island both lose, leaving Brooklyn and the Ironbirds tied for second, one game back of the Renegades.  However Brooklyn and Aberdeen still remain tied for the wild card and will open a three game series at Aberdeen on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Staten Island is two games back of the division lead and 1.5 games back of Brooklyn and Aberdeen for the wild card.  They open a three game series against the Renegades at Staten Island.

Six games remain in the regular season.

• New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones Forge Three-Way Tie For First Place

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES IMPROVE TO 

A LEAGUE BEST 21-13 RECORD AT HOME

GAME ONE

Vermont Lake Monsters  3

Brooklyn Cyclones         12

FINAL

Brooklyn scores early and often en route to a 12-3 slaying of the Vermont Lake Monsters in Sunday afternoon's series opener at Coney Island.  The Cyclones score ten runs in the first three innings alone with tack on runs in the fifth and seventh.  Starter Matt Cleveland faces 20 batters and throws 82 pitches with 47 going for strikes.  He limits the Monsters to just one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts through 4.1 innings, but does not figure in the decision.  Andrew Edwards earns the victory in relief of Cleveland despite yielding two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.  Christian Tripp takes care of the final two innings allowing no runs on one hit while fanning two.  Brooklyn strikes for 15 total hits in 38 at-bats, with five going for extra bases, and go 8 for 16 with RiSP.  Center fielder Kennie Taylor hits his second home run of the season.  Antoine Duplantis, Wilmer Reyes, Joe Genord, and Ranfy Adon each drive in a pair of runs apiece.

Sunday's victory forges a three way tie along with Aberdeen and Hudson Valley for first place of the McNamara Division.  The three teams are likewise locked in the three way tie for the Wild Card with only eight games remain in the regular season.  Connecticut lends Brooklyn an assist with an extra-inning victory over Hudson Valley.  Lowell however is soundly beaten by Aberdeen.  Staten Island splits a double-header up at Troy and close out the weekend 1.5 games out of both the division lead and the wild card.

• New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones: And Then There Were Ten

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones Lead Series 2-1

I - CON 1; BRK 0

II - BRK 4; CON 0

III - BRK 5; CON 0

SATURDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Connecticut Tigers

FROM

THE DODD

With just ten games left in the regular season both the McNamara Division and Wild Card remain up for grabs.  On Thursday Brooklyn bows to the Connecticut Tigers in a rain shortened five inning game.  First baseman Joe Genord records the Cyclones lone hit of the night.  Meanwhile starter Frank Valentino is once again the hard luck loser upon yielding just one earned run on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts through 4.2 innings pitched.  Heavy storms continue through the evening postponing game two of a scheduled double-header (stemming from yet another 7/22 PPD).

On Friday the teams finally play two at the Dodd where pitching wins the day.  Brooklyn hurlers join forces on back to back shutout efforts over the Tigers yielding a mere six total hits through 18 innings pitched.

Michel Otanez starts game one throwing 4.1 innings of scoreless one-hit ball with three walks and three strikeouts.  Mitch Ragan enters in relief of Otanez, allowing no runs on two hits with a strikeout.  Josh Hejka then pitches a scoreless ninth.  Ragan earns his second win of the season to go along with a 2.32 ERA.  Otanez lowers his ERA to a 2.49 mark.  Brooklyn gets runs batted in from Luke Ritter, and Joe Genord, and Wilmer Reyes hits his fifth home run of the season en route to a 4-0 Cyclones final.

• Game one marks Edgardo Alfonzo's 100th victory as manager of the Cyclones.

In game two Brooklyn and Norwich duel through six scoreless innings before the Cyclones finally break through for five runs in the top half of the seventh.  Tigers starter Jack O'Loughlin stymies Cyclones batters through six full, yielding just three hits and two walks while fanning six.  Coming off Wednesday's NYPL all-star game, Brooklyn starter Dan Goggin is limited to a pair of innings during which he allows just one hit, but walks three and fans four.  Hunter Parsons pitches two innings in relief of Goggin allowing just one hit and one walk while fanning six.  Jared Biddy is then tasked with pitching the final three innings.  He faces nine batters, yields one hit, walks none and fans four in completing Brooklyn's second straight whitewashing of the Tigers.  The Cyclones three combine for a three-hit, 14-strikeout effort.  Biddy now sports a stellar 0.40 ERA through eleven appearances and 22.1 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts.  Ranfy Adon is big man on campus going 3 for 3 with a run batted in.  Wilmer Reyes drives in his 25th run of the season.

The Cyclones enter Saturday's McNamara Division race tied with Aberdeen in second place one game behind first place Hudson Valley.  Meanwhile Brooklyn and Aberdeen are now tied for the wild card.  Staten Island loses their second straight to Aberdeen, getting limited to just six hits and no runs against the Ironbirds on Friday.  In fact Aberdeen are winners of three straight.

• New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones: Noah Syndergaard Fans Nine in Victory Over Aberdeen

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Tuesday

Brooklyn Cyclones  7

Aberdeen Ironbirds  4

FINAL

Noah Syndergaard on rehab assignment (hamstring) from the New York Mets joins the Brooklyn Cyclones on their road trip to Aberdeen were he climbs the bump against the Ironbirds on Tuesday.  He yields three runs on five hits (including a two run home run in the sixth inning) with no walks and nine strikeouts through five full innings pitched.  He throws 67 pitches with 56 (83%) going for strikes, and exits with Brooklyn leading 4-3 after five.

• Aberdeen Ironbirds center fielder and lead-off batter Johnny Rizer homers off Noah Syndergaard in his first game, and only his third at-bat as a professional.

Brooklyn jumps out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth on runs batted in from recent returnee Gavin Cecchini, shortstop Yoel Romero, DH Nic Gaddis, and center fielder Ranfy Adon.  By the fifth however, Aberdeen cuts their deficit to one.  In the top of the sixth Adon connects on a two run home run for a 6-3 Brooklyn lead.  Both teams trade a run each the seventh.

Cyclones reliever Matt Mullenbach is summoned to pitch the ninth inning and promptly walks the bases loaded  He then walks a fifth straight batter making it a 7-6 Cyclones lead.  Manager Edgardo Alfonzo can't yank him fast enough.  Reliever Luis Silva inherits the crisis.  In steps Johnny Rizer who's fly to center is too shallow for runners to tag.  However, shortstop Clay Fisher's fly to center this time is deep enough for the runner to score from third making it a 7-6 affair.  With two outs designated hitter Maverick Handley follows with a sharply struck liner to left snatched out of the air by left fielder Jaylen Ferguson.

Game over.

The Cyclones victory gets them back to .500, and a half-game back of the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.

Brooklyn Cyclones Squeeze Out Game One Victory at Lowell

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

MONDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones   2

Lowell Spinners        1

FINAL

Brooklyn Trio Tangle Up Spinners.

Brooklyn starter Malky Mena turns in a stellar performance as he and two other Cyclones pitchers combine on a nine inning gem in game one of their series against the Spinners at Lowell, Massachusetts.

Malky Mena, promoted from the GCL Mets, faces 21 batters, throwing 75 pitches with a nifty 53 (70%) going for strikes.  He yields one earned run on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts through 5.2 innings en route to his first victory.  Justin Lasko and Andrew Edwards again team up in late relief of Mena with 2.1 innings of scoreless one-hit ball with no walks.  Edwards fans three in the ninth.

Center fielder Ranfy Adon leads-off the game with a single to center, then advances to second on a botched pick-off attempt by Lowell starter Bryan Lucas.  Adon soon moves to third on second baseman Wilmer Reyes hit to left.  Still with no outs, Brooklyn attempts a double-steal - Reyes is thrown out at second but Adon scores from third.  Lowell ties the game at one in the third.  But Brooklyn scores the eventual game winner in the fifth on shortstop Yoel Romero's lead-off triple, and catcher Ariel Yera's one out base hit through the left side.