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: Overcome Five Errors For Third Straight Win

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

 

 

SHOWDOWN IN THE VALLEY
 

 

 

GAME ONE FINAL:

Cyclones     7

Renegades  4

 

GAME TWO:

Thursday @ Coney Island

 

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES;
So Far The Brooks Are 3-0 During Final Ten Game Stretch.
Flaky Defense Needs To Shape Up, Quick!

GAINING GROUND ON HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
 

SEVEN GAMES LEFT IN REGULAR SEASON;
 

McNAMARA DIVISION:

Hudson Valley....46-23   *

CYCLONES........42-27   4 games back

 

WILD CARD:

CYCLONES     *
Muckdogs........2 games back

Before the Staten Island Yankees provided Coney Island with an assist, Brooklyn's visit to Hudson Valley was shaping up to be an inconsequential trip.  As of Sunday, the Cyclones fell seven games behind the first place Renegades in the McNamara Division race.  Then, the Bombers swept two games from Hudson Valley, and Brooklyn did the same against the Iron Birds.  Suddenly, with eight games remaining and five games to make up, Brooklyn's head to head match up against the Renegades turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered.


So game on!


On the hill, Gabriel Ynoa opposed Hudson Valley starter, Taylor Guerrieri.  Both hurlers pitched five complete innings.  However, Gabriel Ynoa exited on the losing side of a 2-1 game.  In his five innings of work, he allowed two runs, but only one earned.  He issued one walk and surrendered four hits, while striking out four batters.  In Taylor Guerrieri's five innings, he allowed one hit, one run, and struck out four.


Hudson Valley wasted no time scoring in the first inning.  Gabriel Ynoa hurt his own cause issuing two walks.  The Renegades took a 1-0 lead on a fielder's choice.  Brooklyn tied the game in their next at-bat.  Alexander Sanchez led off the top of the second with a double.  He too, eventually scored on a fielder's choice.  In the third inning, two Brooklyn errors conspired to give Hudson Valley a 2-1 lead.


The respective bullpens took over and kept things quiet in the sixth.  For Brooklyn, Logan Taylor was called in to pitch, while Hudson Valley handed the ball off to Jordan Harrison.


In the seventh inning Jordan Harrison blinked, and the Cyclones bats struck.  Phillip Evans led off with a single.  Then Alex Sanchez, Jayce Boyd, and Malkis De La Cruz, all doubled to help give the 'Clones a 5-2 lead.  With that, Harrison was off to the showers.  Next in from the Renegades bullpen came Rob Finneran, who closed out the frame preventing further damage.  He wasn't as lucky in the eighth inning though.  Brooklyn had their way with him shortly.  After Finneran hit Gavin Cecchini with a pitch, the next batter, Jayce Boyce, answered back with his fifth home run of the season.


Coach Donnelly sent Logan Taylor out for a third inning of work.  However, the pitcher did not finish.  Two hits and an E-4 by Jeff Reynolds got Taylor bounced from the game.  Beck Wheeler was called in next, and promptly issued an RBI double, making it a 7-4 game.


The Cyclones went down quietly in the top of the ninth.  Coach Donnelly then summoned Tyler Vanderheiden to oppose Hudson Valley's attempts at last licks.  The Cyclones closer performed flawlessly, retiring the Renegades in order.  Tyler earned his eleventh save of the season, and Logan Taylor received credit for his second win in relief.


Hudson Valley's McNamara Division lead over the Cyclones is now down to four games with seven left to play.  There is still hope for a division flag Cyclones fans.  It's a slim chance, but stranger things have happened.


In the other race, unfortunately for Brooklyn the Muckdogs won again!  Batavia is 8-2 in their last ten games and winners of four in a row.  As a result, the Cyclones Wild Card lead over the Muckdogs remains at two games.  However, I'm consumed by a sense of Who is chasing Who?  Down the stretch, the Cyclones are now winners of three in a row, but are only 6-4 in their last ten.


On a side note, if you have a bunch of disposable income laying around, and you can find someone who will give you odds, bet everything that Coach Donnelly will have his team outside early in the morning going through extra fielding drills tomorrow.  Especially at this point of the season, it's better to be proactive, than taking no action at all.  Wednesday night's game must have infuriated the manager.  The Brooks committed five errors in the game.  An error in the eighth inning could have been ruinous.  They have now committed eight errors in the last four games.  And that simply will not do - Not with seven games left in the season, and not with the Muckdogs biting at Brooklyn's heals.


The 2012 Cyclones have been cut out of an old Earl Weaver mold.  Saying they play stationary baseball is an understatement.  They are dead last in the league in stolen bases, and rank second to last in team batting average.  Yet, the Bums lead the New York Penn League in walks, and rank second in home runs.  Completing the Weaver equation, the Cyclones possess the best starting rotation in all the circuit.   So the final seven games of the Wild Card race would be a horrible time for their defense to fail them.  More pressing, their attention to detail must not escape them.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones: Brandon Nimmo Having a Grand Time In Brooklyn

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Brandon Nimmo Is Grand With Slam In Win Over Valley Cats.  Batting .400 in August; Continues To Rake In Lead-Off Spot.

Due to the NYPL All Star break, and for missing five games after getting hit by a pitch in the shoulder, Brandon Nimmo has only played in ten games during the month of August.  But what a month it has been for him none the less.  Because remember, in the NYPL, ten games mean something, as A) - the regular season is drawing to a close, and B) the NYPL season is only seventy-six games long.  Additionally, considering how June and July went for Brandon, to see him now is to know he is on fire.



The thirteenth overall pick of the 2011 draft, Brooklyn's center fielder is showing why he was thought of so highly as a nineteen year old out of Wyoming.  But his season didn't start out as well.  Through twelve games in the opening month of June, he struggled to hit .200 on the nose.  He sported a .407 OBP however, on the strength of thirteen base on balls.



In twenty-nine games, he batted .270 in July.  There was much more going on though.  In 115 at-bats, he scored eighteen runs, ripped eleven doubles, and had seventeen RBI for the month.  Through ten games in August, he is batting at a .400 clip.



There is actually, a specific moment when Brandon Nimmo's season turned around.  That came on July 25th, in the first game of a road trip that started against the Batavia Muckdogs.  In that game, Coach Donnelly moved Brandon Nimmo from the eighth spot in the line-up, where he was hitting .228 till that point in the season, and into the lead-off spot.  Since then, the Cyclones have played twenty-one games, and Brandon Nimmo has batted .382 over that span.



After fifty-one games, and 195 at-bats, Brandon has fifty-five hits this season.  Eighteen of those are doubles.  With thirty-three walks, his OBP now sits at an even .400 mark.  And that was Coach Donnelly's original intention - to take advantage of his OBP.  While Brandon Nimmo's on-base percentage warranted the move at the time, his batting average was screaming, no!  The Cyclones' center fielder has been on fire ever since.  His batting average has climbed fifty-four points since July 25th, and now sits at a .282 mark.  On Friday evening, in the series finale against the Tri City Valley Cats, Brandon Nimmo capped off a big, six run ninth inning with a grand slam home run.  It was his fourth home run of the season.



The Cyclones started a three game series in Vermont Saturday, against the Lake Monsters.  They began the night 2.5 games back in the McNamara Division, behind the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.  Nineteen games remain in the regular season.  For the moment, the Cyclones lead the Wild Card race by 4.5 games over the Batavia Muckdogs, who have over-taken the State College Spikes for second.





Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ The Boys Are Back In Town; Tame Tigers

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Open Home Stand

With 3-2 Win Over Connecticut Tigers.

Brandon Nimmo Thriving In The Lead-Off Spot.

The Boardwalk Bum were back on the beach Wednesday evening taking on the Connecticut Tigers.  Gabriel Ynoa made the start for Coney Island, and lasted long enough to leave on the winning side of a low scoring affair.


The Cyclones jumped out to an early 2-0 first inning lead.  Brandon Nimmo led the inning off with a single against Tigers' starter, Charles Gillies.  Phillip Evans reached safely on a fielder's choice wiping out Nimmo.  Then after Jayce Boyd drew a walk,  Kevin Plawecki doubled to drive home both runners.  The Tigers tied the score with two runs in the fourth on a walk and a pair of doubles off Gabriel Ynoa.


The Cyclones' hurler pitched six full innings, allowed five hits, and two earned runs.  He struck out five and walked two.  Coach Donnelly then summoned his first pitcher out of the bullpen; Matthew Koch; who turned in two innings of scoreless baseball.  Tyler Vanderheiden pitched the ninth inning, had some troubles with control, but closed out the Tigers en route to his seventh save of the season.  Gabriel Ynoa improved his record to 3-1 on the season.


The difference maker of the game came in the fifth inning.  Brandon Nimmo got involved again with a lead off single.  After advancing to second, he scored the go-ahead and what turned out to be the winning run on a E-5 off the bat of Jayce Boyd.


Seven games ago, Coach Donnelly inserted Brandon Nimmo into the lead-off position for game one of their road trip, and he has batted .393 since that time.  Now that the Brooks are back home, Coach kept him there.  The Cyclones' center fielder had two hits in four at-bats Wednesday night against Connecticut.  And in his last three games, he has nine hits in fifteen at-bats, which is good for a .600 batting clip.


The Cyclones needed the victory to keep pace because the Hudson Valley Renegades won again, this time over the State College Spikes.  That keeps Brooklyn two games behind the Renegades in the McNamara Division race.  The Cyclones lead the Wild Card race however, by 1.5 games over the Batavia Muckdogs.





Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Brandon Nimmo Helps Knot Series Against Scrappers; Rubber Game Tonight

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Surf Avenue Sluggers Are Back!  Three Home Runs Power Brooks Past Mahoning Valley.

Series Tied 1-1

I - M.V. 3; BKN 2

II - BKN 10; M.V. 5

III - TONIGHT

Game Recap: Travelling Brooks Drop Game One in Ohio

Ask and ye shall receive.  A day after pointing out some of the Cyclones offensive woes, the Surf Avenue Sluggers struck back with a "Take That!" response for me, your author.  Late Sunday afternoon, the Brooks smashed out sixteen hits, and scored ten runs in game two of their series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of Ohio.

Brooklyn took a 3-0 lead right away.  Brandon Nimmo led off the game with a single.  Batter number two; Jeff Reynolds; drew a base on balls.  Then Phillip Evans stepped in against Mahoning's starting pitcher; Ryan Merritt; and crushed his fourth home run of the season.  Two batters later, as quickly as Ryan Merritt's day started, was as quickly as it ended.  Before he could finish out the first inning, Merritt was lifted for Mahoning Valley's first relief pitcher of the game; Josh Martin.

In the second, Julio Concepcion and Brandon Nimmo hit a pair of two-out, back-to-back home runs, giving the Cyclones a 5-0 lead.  The Scrappers got a run back in the bottom of the second, and scored a second run in the third inning.

Brooklyn's starting pitcher; Julian Hilario; only pitched three full innings.  He allowed five hits and two earned runs.  He issued one walk and struck out four before leaving the game.  Beck Wheeler took over pitching duties for Brooklyn in the fourth, and pitched very well over three scoreless innings.  He walked two, and struck out six batters.

After loading the bases full of Cyclones in the fifth, an RBI sac-fly by Jayce Boyd ended Josh Martin's night.  In to pitch came Scrapper reliever number two; James Stokes.  Alexander Sanchez said hello to him with an RBI single to drive home Phillip Evans with Brooklyn's seventh run of the game.  In the sixth inning, the Cyclones pounded out another four consecutive hits, and scored two more runs off Stokes for a 9-2 lead.  They would scored one last run in the eighth inning on an RBI single by Jayce Boyd to make it a 10-2 game.

Out of the bullpen, Brooklyn's Timothy Peterson got roughed up for three runs in the home eighth.  Otherwise, Logan Taylor closed out the ninth inning for the Cyclones, securing a 10-5 win.  Julian Hilario was credited with a no-decision.  Beck Wheeler got the win for his three scoreless innings of work.


Coach Donnelly has been batting Brandon Nimmo in the lead-off spot during this current road trip through Batavia and Mahoning Valley.  While his .240 batting average this season indicates a struggle, his .368 OBP is something Coach Donnelly was looking to exploit at the top of the order.  But over the first four games of this trip, the results weren't so good.  He batted 3 for 17, with one double, and drew only one base on balls.  He then had a monster game on Sunday.  Against Mahoning Valley, Brandon Nimmo went 4 for 6, with a home run and a double.  That was Brandon Nimmo's third home run and eleventh double in 150 at-bats this season.


Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Heading To Ohio One Game Out of First Place

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

N.Y. Daily News - Brooklyn Cyclones Hand Out ~ 2001 Inaugural Season

Brooklyn Wins Series 2-1

I - BKN 3; BAT 1

II - BKN 7; BAT 1

III - BAT 2; BKN 0

Recaps:  Games One and Two

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Batavia Muckdogs Bite Back In Series Finale.

Ohio, Here We Come!

Plus ~ McNamara Division Friday Evening Wrap-Up

Brooklyn caught an early afternoon break.  The Tri Citi Valley Cats took the first game of a double-header against Hudson Valley, allowing the Cyclones to gain a half-game on the first place Renegades before ever stepping on the field.  And so the Brooks entered Friday night's game against Batavia one game behind the Renegades for the McNamara Division lead.  Hudson Valley still had an evening game to play however.


That said, make that three consecutive games this series in which the Batavia Muckdogs jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead over the Cyclones.  They scored off Brooklyn starter, Luis Cessa, with a lead-off single by Alex Mejia, and a one out RBI double by Garret Wittels.  On the mound starting for Batavia was Joe Cuda.  Over the first four innings, he retired the Cyclones in order.  After the first inning, Luis Cessa matched zeroes with him.


Brooklyn was still looking for their first hit as the teams entered the fifth inning.  Finally, they got it.  A lead-off double by Alexander Sanchez broke the seal.  Or, so it seemed.  Joe Cuba struck out the next three batters to turn back Brooklyn, and raised his total to seven strikeouts for the game.  Luis Cessa then pitched a scoreless bottom half of the fifth to keep the game a 1-0 affair.


In the sixth inning, Batavia made a pitching change and summoned Corey Baker to relieve Joe Cuda. Dimas Ponce then led off with a single.  But Corey Baker retired the next three Brooklyn batters.  Luis Cessa's night was also finished after five innings although he left on the losing side.  Coach Donnelly called on Matthew Bowman to pitch the sixth.  After a lead-off single and a stolen base by Patrick Wisdom, Bowman retired the next three Muckdogs.  Both relievers went on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning as well.  Three strikeout by Corey Baker brought Batavia's total to ten for the game.  And to this point, Brooklyn's Luis Cessa had issued the only walk of the game.


With eight hits in the game, the Batavia Muckdogs were coming up short with runners on base.  Through the first seven frames, they were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.  While Brooklyn, still behind by a run, was being limited to just two hits.  The game pressed on and into the eighth inning they went.


After Corey Baker secured the first out in Brooklyn's half of the eighth, Batavia brought Ryan Copeland into the game.  The Cyclones had a runner on second with one out after Juan Carlos Gamboa singled, and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Then with runners on first and second with two outs, up came Brandon Nimmo, who struck out swinging, and was thrown out at first base (K, 2-3) to complete the play.  Gamboa's hit was only Brooklyn's third of the game.


Tyler Vanderheiden took over pitching duties from Matthew Bowman in the home half of the eighth.  With one out, Patrick Wisdom singled.  A batter later, David Washington drove Wisdom home with a clutch, two out double, to give Batavia a 2-0 lead.


To close out the game for Batavia, the Muckdogs called upon Yunier Castillo to pitch the ninth inning.  After issuing a lead-off walk to Phillip Evans, Castillo set down the next three Cyclones in order, striking out Stefan Sabol swinging to end the game.


Although he pitched well, Luis Cessa was tabbed with the loss.  He now has a 2-2 record this season, but lowered his ERA to a 2.78 mark.  Batavia's Joe Cuda, who struck out seven while issuing no walks, gets credit for his fourth win of the season without a loss.  Yunier Castillo notched save number five.


Opportunity Lost:  With tonight's loss, the Cyclones gave back the half-game Hudson Valley afforded them earlier in the day.  That put Brooklyn 1.5 games behind the Renegades again even before Hudson Valley's second game went final.  But as luck would have it, the Tri Citi Valley Cats shut out the Renegades 7-0, to sweep their double-header.  Worth noting about the second game, Tri Citi's starting pitcher, Brian Holmes, took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Hudson Valley's center fielder, Joey Rickard, broke it up with a clean lead-off single to right field.  Brian Holmes, like Batavia's starting pitcher, Joey Cuda, won his fourth game of the season, against one loss.  He finished out the game pitching a one-hit, complete game shutout.  And with Hudson Valley's game two loss, and suffering a sweep at the hands of the Valley Cats, Brooklyn ends the night only one game behind the Renegades who lead the McNamara Division.


What you should know about New York Penn League rules however, is that each game of a double-header will be seven innings in length, not nine.  That's A-ball folks.


The Cyclones will now continue along with their great western road trip.  Get ready Ohio!  Here comes Brooklyn.  The Seaside Sluggers will play the Mahoning Valley Scrappers over the weekend before returning back home to Coney Island.  The Staten Island Yankees concluded a series against the Scrappers tonight.  They dropped the first game of a double-header 5-3, but had game two cancelled due to weather.  Let's hope the skies clear up in time for Brooklyn's arrival.


Let's Go Cyclones!






Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Taking A Bite Out of Batavia Muckdogs

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Coney Island Nine have taken the first two games of their great western road trip so far, with a pair of wins against the Batavia Muckdogs.


On Wednesday night, the Muckdogs scored once in the first and again in the fifth, while Batavia's starter, Ben Freeman, cruised through his first five frames.  Staked to a two run lead, he allowed Brooklyn three scattered hits and no runs.


Gabriel Ynoa started for the Brooks.  He allowed both Batavia's runs.  Overall he pitched six full innings, surrendering eight hits, striking out five, while walking none.  He left on the winning side of this game however, because the Cyclones rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth.


Ben Freeman's outing fell apart rather quickly.  He allowed a lead-off single to Jayce Boyd.  Kevin Plawecki lined out hard to right for out one.  After a Ben Freeman wild pitch put Boyd on second, Alexander Sanchez tied the game with his first home run of the season.  Stefan Sabol then followed with a second consecutive home run; his second; to knock Freeman out of the box on the losing side.


That was the extent of the game's scoring.  After Gabriel Ynoa put Batavia down with a pair of strikeouts in the home sixth inning, he took to the showers as reliever Paul Sewald took over on the mound.  Sewald pitched the final three innings against the Muckdogs.  In picking up his second save of the season, he turned in a stellar performance, allowing but one hit and striking out two.  Starter Gabriel Ynoa improved his record to 2-1 on the season.


Coach Donnelly juggled the line-up and gave Brandon Nimmo a shot at the lead-off spot.  Although he is currently only hitting .228 this season, the center fielder's .369 OBP warranted a try.  He went 1 for 4 in the game, with a double, and a walk.  Stefan Sabol was 2 for 3 in the game with a home run and a double.


*


On Thursday and for the second consecutive game, Batavia jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning.  And the score stayed that way through the first seven innings of the game.  Batavia's Tyler Melling pitched the first four innings against Brooklyn.  Then Lee Stoppelman made an early appearance out of the bullpen, and kept the Cyclones in check for another two innings.


Luis Mateo started the game for Brooklyn, and put forth a very good effort, but was ultimately credited with a no-decision.  In 6.2 innings of work, he allowed the Muckdogs six hits, and limited them to the one run Batavia scored in the first.  Otherwise, he walked no batters and struck out seven before handing the game over to the bullpen.


Batavia's one run lead turned into a four run deficit in the top of the eighth inning.  Brooklyn broke out for five runs against the Muckdogs' third and fourth pitchers of the night; Brandon Creath and Joseph Scanio.  Three consecutive singles by Phillips Evans, Jayce Boyd, and Kevin Plawecki set up a bases loaded/no outs situation for Alexander Sanchez, who lofted a sac-fly to right, delivering Evans from third with the tying run.  Stefan Sabol then followed with his twelfth double of the season which scored Boyd to make it a 2-1 game.  That's when Batavia summoned Scanio to replace Creath on the mound.  No matter though.  Brooklyn's Jeff Reynolds introduced himself with a RBI single, and Eudy Pina's sac-fly scoring Sabol made the score 4-1 Cyclones.  Brandon Nimmo's RBI single then gave Brooklyn their fifth run of the inning.


Brooklyn reliever Logan Taylor was the beneficiary of those runs.  He previously closed out the seventh with one/third inning of work in relief of Luis Mateo.  He allowed one hit.  The bottom of the eighth was Matthew Koch's job though.  In fact, he pitched the ninth inning as well.  Overall, he allowed one hit and struck out one batter.  Logan Taylor was credited with the win however.


The Cyclones picked up two more insurance runs in the ninth.  A throwing error by pitcher Joseph Scanio allowed Jayce Boyd and Kevin Plawecki to score making it a 7-1 game, and eventual final.


Brandon Nimmo batted lead-off for the second consecutive game.  He was 1 for 5 with an RBI.  That makes him 2 for 9 batting from the top slot this series.  Stefan Sabol continued his hot hitting by going 2 for 5 in the game with two doubles and an RBI.  Jayce Boyd was 3 for 5, with two runs scored.


Prior to heading into Western New York, the Cyclones dropped a pair of games to the Aberdeen Iron Bird.  That allowed the Hudson Valley Renegades to take over the McNamara Division lead.  These last two Cyclones' wins have helped Brooklyn stay with 1 1/2 games of the Renegades.  Hudson Valley is in the middle of a seven game winning streak.  The Cyclones are now 23-15 on the season.  The Hudson Valley Renegades sport a slightly better 24-13 record.


Brooklyn will wrap up this series with the Batavia Muckdogs on Friday before continuing their westward journey towards Ohio, where they will take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.  Hudson Valley will be playing a double header versus the Tri Citi Valley Cats.  Another win against the Muckdogs will be key for the second place Cyclones in order to keep pace.





Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Starting Pitching Continues to Shine

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Kings County is No Place For a Raccoon.  Brooks Two-Hit Their Upstate Rivals.


After taking two of three games from the Iron Birds in Aberdeen, the Seaside Sluggers returned to Coney Island and hosted the Hudson Valley Renegades.  In an early season battle for first place, three Cyclones' pitchers hand-cuffed their upstate rivals.


Making his second start of the season, Luis Mateo pitched his second consecutive abbreviated 2-hitter.  In six full innings, he walked only one, while striking out seven batters.  Mateo lowered his ERA to 0.77, and collected his second win in as many starts.


In relief, Paul Sewald was first out of the pen for Brooklyn.  He pitched two innings of hitless, scoreless ball, and struck out three batters while issuing no walks.  Sewald was credited with his first hold.  Tyler Vanderheiden came in to pitch the ninth inning.  He walked one, and struck out two, in  recording his second save.


Hudson Valley's starting pitcher, Taylor Gerrieri, gave the Brooks a 1-0 lead in the second, when he balked home Cole Frenzel from third base.  Eudy Pina drove in two more Cyclones' runs in the eighth inning, on a bases loaded single to give Brooklyn a 3-0 lead, and an eventual final.


In eight games, Cyclones' pitching has limited their opponents to a .186 batting average, and have pitched to a combined 2.66 ERA.  They lead the lead in shutouts with two, and also lead the circuit with a stellar 0.96 WHIP.


The Cyclones are now making their second pass through the starting rotation.  In eight games, Coach Donnelly has used six starters.  The rotation shapes up like this:


1) - Gabriel Ynoa
2) - Luis Mateo
3) - Luis Cessa
4) - Hansel Robles
5) - Julian Hilario
6) - Rainy Lara


As a rotation, they are averaging 5.2 innings per appearance, while only allowing 3.4 hits per game.  They have yeilded a total of seven walks.  In 44.2 innings pitched, they have amassed forty-five strikeouts.  No starter has surrendered more than two runs in a start, and combined, the rotation sports a 1.42 ERA, allowing seven runs total so far.


The Cyclones are now 6-2, and lead the McNamara Division by a full game over the Renegades.  The series shifts to Peekskill, N.Y., for Game Two, before they return to Coney Island for Game Three on Wednesday.




Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Cyclones ~ The Boardwalk Bums Are Back

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

12th Season of Baseball By The Sea Shore.

...But, we start this season without our beloved and legendary Voice of Summer.  The most esteemed occupant of The Catbird Seat; Mr. Warner Fusselle; has passed away at the age of sixty-eight.  The only radio broadcaster the Cyclones ever had, now calls games in a better place.

I live/lived within listening distance of the Cyclone's previous broadcasts out of Kingsborough Community College.  And therefore, Warner Fusselle's voice was a big part of my summer, as I was always tuned into the games, if I wasn't there in person, that is.  And so, Mr. Fusselle will sorely be missed, not just by me, but by my whole generation of baseball fans.  He became known to me as the voice of This Week In Baseball, after taking over for Mel Allen.

Having Warner Fusselle call games on behalf of the Borough of Kings, has been nothing short of, Classic.

The radio broadcasts will continue, but from a new, more powerful signal and home at Seton Hall University Radio.  With far more reach than their previous, limited signal emanating off the shores of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn Cyclones fans throughout the greater New York City area will now be able to listen to games on WSOU 89.5 FM.

The Cyclones have revealed their Preliminary Roster for the upcoming season which begins Monday evening in Coney Island, against the rival Staten Island Yankees.  Included on the roster, and making his Brooklyn debut, will be Team Sandy's 2011 thirteenth overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft; outfielder, Brandon Nimmo.

Welcome to Brooklyn Brandon!  See you at the park.

Rich Donnelly is returning for a second season as Cyclones' skipper.  After nearly guiding us to a championship last season, he will be a welcome sight calling signals from the third base box again.  Marc Valdez takes over for Frank Viola as Pitching Coach.  He's coached in the Mets system since 2007; most recently in Binghampton.  Former Cyclones' player, Bobby Malek, returns for a second season as hitting coach.

Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ 2011 Roster Starting To Take Shape

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS


BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Organization Goes Off Campus For Brooklyn's New Manager. 

Old Favorite Frankie-V Will Teach Brooklyn's Hurlers The Art Of Making SWEET MUSIC Together.


The 2011 Cyclones' manager will be Rich Donnelly.  He is new to the Mets organization but comes on board with over three decades of Baseball coaching experience.  He's a graduate of the Jim Leyland School of Thought having spent 14 years coaching under him with three different teams.


This year's Pitching Coach; Frank Viola; will try and see if he can get Brooklyn's young arms to make Sweet Music of their own.  The Long Island native returns to the organization he pitched with from 1989 through 1991.  He won twenty games for the Amazins in 1990.

Hitting Coach; former Cyclone player; Bobby Malek was a 2002 4th round Mets' draft pick.  He played 28 games for Brooklyn in 2002 and 3 more games for them in 2006.  He spent the last two seasons working for the Mets in Kingsport.  Therefore he will have a lot of familiarity with several of the up-coming Surf Avenue Sluggers expected to make the team.


With the First Year Amateur Draft out of the way.  The Cyclones' roster is finally taking form.  The Brooklyn Cyclones have issued a preliminary roster as/of June 14, 2011.


View that here:  Tentative Brooklyn Cyclones' Roster


We know who the starting pitchers will be for the first two games of the season against the Staten Island Yankees.  To open the season in Staten Island, Brooklyn will start with righty, Eduardo Aldama on the mound.  In Saturday's Coney Island Home Opener, the Cyclones will go with lefty, Carlos Vasquez.






Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ Frank Viola Named Pitching Coach for 2011

Brooklyn Cyclones; -

The Brooklyn Cyclones have announced their coaching staff for the upcoming 2011 season.

Rich Donnelly has been named the new manager of the Coney Island Nine.  He has over 25 years experience being a Major League Coach.  In the 1980's he managed in the Texas Rangers farm system and coached on the big club as well.  The majority of his body of his work was spent coaching for Jim Leyland in Pittsburgh, Florida and Colorado.  He was a coach for the 1997 Champion Florida Marlins.  He also coached with Milwaukee and Los Angeles.

FRANKIE VIOLA; former 20 game winner for the Mets, Cy Young Winner, and Long Island native, will serve as the team's new Pitching Coach.  He'll be charged with teaching our Brooklyn hurlers how to make sweet music on the mound by the seashore.

The new Hitting Coaching for the Surf Avenue Sluggers will be Bobby Malek.  This 29 year old played 28 games for the Cyclones in 2002.  The Mets selected him in the 4th round in the 2002 Draft.  He comes back where it all started for him to teach the next generation of Lil Bums.

Frank Viola joins, Howard Johnson, Bobby Ojeda, Mookie Wilson, Tim Teufel and Wally Backman as former Mets who came back to coach in Brooklyn.




Mike.BTB