N.Y. Mets: Last Season in Vegas

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

CASHMAN FIELD

home of the

LAS VEGAS 51s

Triple-A Affiliate of the New York Mets

2013 - 2018

The Mets announced last year their purchase of the Syracuse Chiefs franchise, and thus have successfully consolidated three of their minor league affiliates within the state of New York.  The existing Player Development Contract in place between the Mets and Las Vegas 51s expires at the conclusion of this season.

• Mark Weiner of Syracuse.com reported at the time the New York Mets were purchasing the (AAA) Syracuse Chiefs.  According to Weiner, a tentative deal will allow the Mets to assume control of the Chiefs when the player development contract between Syracuse and the Washington Nationals expires after the 2018 season.  The timing also coincides with the expiration of the New York Mets development contract with the Las Vegas 51s.

However, I have every intention of keeping up with 51's baseball.  Being on the east coast, Las Vegas start times on most nights conveniently follow Mets games.  And with Syracuse in my time zone, I'll still be in search of Pacific Coast League or even California League action.  Therefore, nothing really changes.  Because of my now familiarity with Las Vegas 51s games I'll be sticking around for seasons to come.  I grew to enjoy immensely through the last five years Russ Langer's call and baseball banter.  I'm a creature of habit.  So truth be told, Russ Langer has effectively become my midnight lullaby.

Personally, the last five years have been largely highlighted by former manager Wally Backman and pitching coach Frank Viola.  Many Mets fans hoped for several years to see them both one day working for the big club.  But that never materialized.  Instead Wally and the Mets parted ways two years ago on rather acrimonious terms, while Frank Viola transferred to Binghamton.

The 51's have a new manager again.  Tony DeFrancesco takes over for Pedro Lopez, whom took over for one season after Backman's departure.  Although he is new to the Mets organization, let's just say there are few people more familiar with, and have achieved more success in the Pacific Coast League.  Tony's resume is lengthy, and includes four PCL championships.

Taking over for Frank Viola will be Glenn Abbott, who has been serving dutifully at Binghamton for the previous six seasons.  Viola and Abbott are essentially trading places.  And the former's first order of business as new pitching coach at Las Vegas requires straightening out Hansel Robles and Zack Wheeler.  The two joined forces on an 8.91 ERA after surrendering a combined 21 earned runs on 39 hits through 21.2 total innings of Grapefruit League action.

• Hansel Robles might be getting called up due to an injury to Anthony Swarzak.

Jamie Callahan is a member of the 40-man roster.  Selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, the 24-year old right-hander is a product of the Boston Red Sox system and subsequently acquired by the Mets in the Addison Reed deal.  He appeared in nine games for the Mets last year, allowing seven hits and striking out five through 6.2 innings pitched.  He owns a career 4.71 ERA over six minor league seasons and 384 innings pitched.

Infielders Gavin Cecchini and Luis Guillorme are both also on the Mets 40-man roster.  Amed Rosario is now the starting shortstop for the Mets.  If needed, Adrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, and even Wilmer Flores could always fill in.  Meaning Cecchini, the 12th overall selection of the 2012 amateur draft, is potentially facing his third full season at Las Vegas, and therefore will continue transitioning to second base in a bid to win the position in 2019.  Shortstop Luis Guillorme, 23, is coming off a full season at Binghamton, where he batted .283 with a .376 OBP.

Outfielder Travis Taijeron spent the last three full season at Las Vegas.  However, the Mets outfield is log jammed.  There was simply no room for him.  As a consequence, the organization had no choice last November but to grant Travis his free agency after serving seven years in the Mets system.  He was signed with haste by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Travis was a career .514 slugger through 2,644 minor league at-bats.  He achieved double-digit home runs six times, and twice hit 25 home runs in a season.  I'm sorry to see him go ...

Philip Evans, 25, opened the season with the big club based on his ability to play multiple positions.  However, he's likely the odd man out once Michael Conforto returns to the Mets line-up.  If the Mets were smart, though, they would let Conforto fulfill a rehab assignment first before shoehorning him back into active status.  Evans should otherwise look forward to his second full season at Las Vegas.  Like Travis Taijeron, he similarly finds himself stuck behind a logjam at Flushing, and is fast running out of time with the organization.

Same also goes for Jayce Boyd.  A familiar face among Mets minor league fans, but otherwise indistinguishable from the crowd.  As a first baseman/left fielder by trade, he simply lacks the slugging potential required of those positions.  In his first taste taste of AAA ball last season, he slugged above .500 for the first time in his six year minor league career.  But many chalk that up to playing in the desert conditions of Las Vegas.

Remember Wuilmer Becerra?  He was acquired along with Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard as part of the R.A. Dickey trade with Toronto.  He was barely eighteen years old at the time.  Becerra is 22-years old now, and presently listed on the 51's roster.  He's been playing at Port St. Lucie the last two seasons.  He's double-slashing .282/.341 through 1,577 total minor league at-bats.

Matt den Dekker marks his return to the organization after spending the last three seasons at Washington and Detroit.

Left handed pitchers will forever be in demand.  David Roseboon returns for a second season with the 51's.  He was doing just fine until his arrival in the Pacific Coast League.  With Binghamton, he posted 14 saves and a 1.87 ERA in 2016, with a 5.3 H/9 and 8.4 K/9 averages through 57.2 innings pitched.  But in 18 games and 17.1 innings for Las Vegas last season, he posted an unsightly 8.31 ERA and 1.788 WHiP.

Southpaw Kelly Secrest, 26, is entering his first full season with the 51's.  Last year with Binghamton, he posted a 4.03 ERA and 1.658 WHiP through 38 innings.  He averaged 10.9 K/9, but his 10.7 H/9 and 10.7 W/9 averages would appear quite troublesome.

OPENING DAY

El Paso Chihuahuas

vs.

Las Vegas 51's

THURSDAY

N.Y. Mets: Wally still trying to hit jackpot in Las Vegas

From the desk of HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET MEETS THE GREAT GAZOO

CASHMAN FIELD

LAS VEGAS

NEW YORK METS: Fans still hoping Wally Backman will one day manage in Flushing.

Long suspected by fans, and reinforced by Darryl Stawberry's recent appearances on SNY-TV, and most notably on ESPN's Doc and Darryl 30 for 30 episode, Fred Wilpon isn't necessarily the problem in so far as the organization's relationship with many former members of the 1986 Mets.

Fred Wilpon certainly pissed off Tom Seaver over the years, but his fondness for the '86 Mets is actually well known.  Instead, Mets' COO Jeff Wilpon is widely assumed to be the root cause for most strained relationships with their former players, particularly members of the 1986 era Mets, and all else for that matter.

That's why during Saturday night's game between the visiting Las Vegas 51s and host Iowa Cubs, Wally Backman perhaps reinforced why he'll likely never become manager of the New York Mets.

In the bottom of the 6th inning with the 51s leading 7-5, Las Vegas reliever Jeff Walters was called for a balk.  When Walters protested Wally Backman naturally raced out of the dugout to protect his pitcher (as well he should), but escalated matters by tapping back into his inner Peanuts days (not rated PG!) - directing some good old school vitriol at home plate ump Blade Felix and first base ump Thomas Newsome.

Of course, Wally Backman earned his 6th ejection of the season the old fashioned way - making sure to cover up home plate with dirt prior to exiting the field.

Despite the masses of Mets fans in Wally Backman's corner yearning for him to be named Mets manager, Jeff Wilpon will likely never allow that to happen.

What a shame too.  The man battles demons, but possesses a brilliant baseball mind, and whose desire to win is relentless ... like Pete Rose and Billy Martin once were.  As players, then as managers, all they (Rose, Martin, Backman) ever wanted to do was beat you - every inning, every game, every day, until the schedule tapped out.

That's a unique personality at work, a baseball lifer, a die hard, but quite often not so soft and cuddly, much less agreeable with anyone outside his locker room.

Sadly, in the age of replay challenges, diva umpiring, Joe Torre's medieval baseball council, runaway media sensationalism, social media contrarians, and the PC plague, I sense hiring Wally Backman to manage the Mets would go over like a fart in a spacesuit ... or not.

My passion for baseball was born in the 70s ... clearly a different era.


Travis Taijeron has left the building..

Fresh off homering in the AAA All-Star game, Las Vegas 51s outfielder/DH Travis Taijeron connected again Saturday against the Iowa Cubs, this time leaving the ball park.  That's right - Travis Taijeron's home run left Principal Park (home of the Iowa Cubs).

Travis, 27, is now slashing .305/.388/.566 through 86 games and 318 at-bats this season.  Here's how he ranks against the Pacific Coast League's offensive leaders:

• Doubles - #1
• Total Bases - #2
• RBI - #3
• OPS - #4
• Runs Scored - #5
• Home Runs - tied #6

Shooting Craps...

The devolving Rafael Montero was demoted to Binghamton last week.

After pitching in all of seven games in 2015 due to arm soreness, this season was supposed to be his big comeback - bigger, better, and stronger than ever.

That hasn't happened...

Instead, Montero, posted a 4-6 record, with an alarming 7.20 ERA and 1.888 WHiP over 16 starts for the Las Vegas 51s.  He allowed 111 hits and 40 walks in 80 innings pitched, with 68 strikeouts.

He has now made 50 starts over parts of four seasons with Las Vegas, in which he owns a 16-14 record with a 4.60 ERA and 1.4555 WHiP, with 233 strikeouts over 256.1 innings pitched.

Montero, 25, earned a no-decision in his first start with the BMets.  He allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks through six innings pitched, with five strikeouts.

Mets Minors: Backman Leading Las Vegas 51s Trio in AAA All-Star Game

From the desk of:  MR. MET MEETS THE GREAT GAZOO

CASHMAN FIELD

Las Vegas, Nevada

Mets Minors: Travis Taijeron and J.T. Rivera Set to Wield PCL Leading Bats Against International League's Best.

The Las Vegas 51s regular season will resume on July 14 against the Iowa Cubs.

In the meantime, Vegas skipper Wally Backman will manage the Pacific Coast League's top talent when they take on the International League's best in the 29th annual AAA All-Star Game this Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Pitcher Gabriel Ynoa is tied for second most wins in the league with a 9-3 record, and tied for second with 18 starts this season.  He has also logged the third most innings in the Pacific Coast League to date and boasts a representative 4.19 ERA.

At the plate, right fielder Travis Taijeron and infielder J.T. Rivera have been pummeling Pacific Coast league pitching since the season's first call to play ball.

After 84 games and 312 at-bats, Taijeron leads the PCL with 35 doubles, is second with 176 total bases, ranks third with 69 RBI, and is fifth with both a .564 slugging average and .953 OPS.  He's otherwise batting .306 with 13 home runs.

Shortstop and third baseman J.T. Rivera leads the Pacific Coast League with a .348 batting average.   He is additionally fourth behind Taijeron with 63 RBI, tenth right behind Taijeron with a .389 OBP, and is tied with Taijeron for sixth with 96 total hits.  With eight home runs to date, he's one away from matching his single season (2014) high.

N.Y. Mets: Taijeron and Nimmo making noise in Las Vegas

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

Mets prospects Brandon Nimmo and Travis Taijeron 

Demanding Sandy Alderson's Attention

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets: RA's First Round Amateur Draft Review

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

A player by player review
of Friday's first round draft selections
#1 through #34
Mets June Amateur Draft Overview: Round One

ICYMI:
A look back at the 2011 amateur draft,
and a preview of the 2016 draft.

Should Mounting Injuries Influence Mets June Amateur Draft Strategy?

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets: Time for the Annual June Amateur Draft

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

Should Mounting Injuries Influence the Mets 

Upcoming June Amateur Draft Strategy?

A review of the 2011 amateur draft, 

and potential strategies for this weekend's 2016 June amateur draft.

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

BKN Cyclones ~ The Wild Ones

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Travis Taijeron Drives 'Em WILD in Game One With Three RBI.

GAME ONE:  Hudson Valley Renegades @ Brooklyn Cyclones:

BROOKLYN - 3
Hudson Valley - 1
7 innings

In the first game of a double-header tonight, the Cyclones won their fourth consecutive game; this time, over the Hudson Valley Renegades at the Surf Avenue Grounds.  Just when games are mattering most, the Seaside Sluggers seem to be reigniting the fire they showed during much of August.


In game one, Hudson Valley took an early 1-0 lead in the second.  Brooklyn tied the score in the fourth inning when Travis Taijeron doubled home Richard Lucas who reached on a walk.  With two outs in the sixth inning, Richard Lucas was hit by a pitch and Cole Frenzel walked.  That brought up Travis Taijeron again, who delivered a huge, clutch triple to drive home both runners, and give the Cyclones a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish.


Brooklyn's starting pitcher; Marcos Camanera; put in a fine effort against Hudson Valley.  He tossed 6.0 innings, giving up a lone home run in the second inning.  Otherwise, Marcos allowed five hits and struck out five as well for his third victory of the season against three losses.  Nicholas Carr pitched the seventh inning (double-header rules) for the first professional save of his career.



GAME TWO:  Hudson Valley Gains Split of Double-Header.

Hudson Valley - 7
BROOKLYN - 0
7 innings
   

There were no clutch Brooklyn hits this time.  More accurately, there were only three Brooklyn hits all game.  Hudson Valley's starting pitcher; Jacob Partridge; blanked the Cyclones over 6.1 innings pitched.  In addition to limiting the Cyclones to just two hits, the Hudson Valley lefty struck out nine Seaside Swingers tonight while walking only one.  Stayton Thomas relieved Partridge and allowed Brooklyn's third hit of the night; but nothing more.


The Cyclones only managed three hits in game one also; however, with different results.



Playoff Picture:

McNAMARA DIVISION:
Staten Island Yankees....43-24   *
Brooklyn Cyclones........ 39-29    4.5 GB


The Baby Bombers swept a double-header against the Aberdeen Iron Birds in Staten Island to increase their lead over Brooklyn by 4.5 games.  The Cyclones will have to take two of three games from the Spinners in their up-coming road trip to Lowell, in order to have a chance of over-taking Staten Island this coming weekend; as both teams will close out the regular season with a home-and-home series.



WILD CARD:
Brooklyn Cyclones..............39-29    *
Williamsport Crosscutters...40-30    *

In Williamsport, the Crosscutters defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers with a run in the bottom of the 14th inning.  The Cyclones maintain a percentage-points lead over the Crosscutters, but end the night tied for the Wild Card lead.




Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Finally, A Piece of Playoff Pie!

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Surf Avenue Sluggers Enter The All-Star Break Tied For The WILD CARD Lead.

Mother Nature gave everyone a dousing Sunday; even Ohio; as she had the game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers postponed.  But that didn't necessarily mean the Cyclones got rained on their parade yesterday.


They didn't gain any ground on the Staten Island Yankees, as they also had their game postponed.  But by the time everyone went to sleep last night, the Brooklyn Cyclones slid into a three way tie for the Wild Card spot.  In one of the few NY-PL games that didn't get rained-out, the Williamsport Crosscutters, who entered Sunday holding a half-game lead in the Wild Card standings over Brooklyn and Mahoning Valley, fell to the Aberdeen Iron Birds by a 9-3 final score.


Now, Brooklyn, Mahoning Valley, and Williamsport, all share a piece of the prized fourth playoff spot with just nineteen regular season games left for the Cyclones this season.  All three teams share identical 32-24 records.


The League has the day off today as part of their two day break for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game to be played Tuesday evening in Lowell, MA.; home of the Spinners. 


Representing Brooklyn:
SS - Danny Muno ~ 3rd in the League in Batting Average .341;  15 Doubles.
3B - Richard Lucas ~ 7th in the League in Batting Average  .309;  15 Doubles; 5 HR;  29 RBI.
CF - Travis Taijeron ~ 2nd in the League in RBI - 38;  .303 Batting Average;  8 HR.
RF - Charles Thurber ~ .269 BA;  11 Doubles;  22 RBI.
*RP - Tyson Seng ~ 0.90 ERA;  3-1;  2 Saves;  1.07 WHIP.
*RP - TJ Chism ~ 1.13 ERA; 3-0;  3 Saves;  0.96 WHIP.



When games resume Wednesday, the Cyclones will be in Coney Island to host the Jamestown Jammers to begin a six-game home stand.


In other games Cyclone Fans need to be mindful of, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers open a series in Vermont against the Lake Monsters.  The Tri City Valley Cats will visit the Williamsport Crosscutters.  And of McNamara Division importance, Staten Island will be in Connecticut playing the Tigers.


Enjoy the All-Star Game.  Let's Go National League!



Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Saturday Night Fever

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Tonight, They Play For a Piece of the Wild Card Lead.

The Cyclones are making their move on the Staten Island Yankees via Ohio.  They are now just 4.5 games behind the McNamara Division leaders.  And with last night's victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Brooklyn Cyclones are now just one game away from tying the Scrappers for the Wild Card lead.  The Williamsport Crosscutters still have a say in the Wild Card race as they sit just one half game behind Mahoning Valley entering today's games.

McNAMARA DIVISION

1) - Staten Island Yankees...35-19   .648    -

2) - Brooklyn Cyclones.........31-24   .564   4.5 GB

WILD CARD

1) - Mahoning Valley Scrappers   32-23   -

2) - Williamsport Crosscutters       31-23   0.5  GB

3) - BROOKLYN CYCLONES          31-24   1.0  GB

In the last weekend before the NY-PL All-Star Game break, game one of a three game series against the Ohio Nine goes to Brooklyn.  The Cyclones loaded up with three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the eighth, en route to a 10-6 final over Mahoning Valley Friday night.

One of our newest Cyclone signings and native New Yorker hailing out of the Bronx; T.J. Rivera; helped the Surf Avenue Sluggers out-hit Mahoning Valley by going 4 for 5, with a double and two runs scored in only his fourth game wearing Bum Threads.  Richard Lucas and Ismael Tijerina each had two RBI on the night.

 

Cole Frenzel doubled in the second inning to score Charles Thurber.  Then, Mahoning Valley allowed the Cyclones to score a run in the third on a wild pitch.  Richard Lucas tripled in the fifth inning; driving home his two RBI, and Mahoning Valley allowed the Cyclones to score another run off another wild pitch in the fifth inning.  The Cyclones picked up one in the sixth on Ismael Tijerina's sac-bunt which scored Travis Taijeron.

 

A four run eighth inning capped the game off for the Cyclones.  Two more Scrapper's wild pitches  allowed two more runs to score. As a matter of fact, Mahoning Valley uncorked a multitude of wild pitches throughout the game, and utterly handicapped themselves in the eighth in particular.  RBI by Travis Taijeron and T.J. Rivera finished off the Scrappers for the night.

WILD TIME TONIGHT!

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

From

Somewhere in Ohio

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Let's Play Two

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE


BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bums Take Bite Out of Muckdogs.

The Cyclones and Batavia Muckdogs will take a second crack at playing a twin bill today out in Western New York.  They tried fitting in two games yesterday, but the weather was uncooperative for a second straight day.  They were also rained out Tuesday.


They did manage to get one game in on Wednesday.  And it was all Cyclones.  Brooklyn got on the scoreboard first with four runs in the second inning on a 2-RBI single by Ismael Tijerina, and a 2-RBI double by Javier Rodriguez.


Batavia got two back in the eighth inning.  Then the Cyclones busted out with another five runs in the top of the ninth.  After a Daniel Muno double, Javier Rodriguez singled him home.  Richard Lucas walked and Brian Harrison reached on an E-6 to load the bases.  Travis Taijeron then pummelled a pitch over the right field wall for a grand slam; his 8th home run of the season; to make the score 9-2 Cyclones.


Brooklyn starter, Marcos Camarena, was sweet over 5.2 innings pitched.  He allowed only four hits and no runs.  In his second win of the season, he walked only one batter while striking out six.  The rock-solid Brooklyn bullpen was a little flaky, but finished the job.

DOUBLE-HEADER

First Game  5:05pm

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Batavia Muckdogs

From

Western New York

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ Bums Dump Staten Island In Game One

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Seventh Inning Break-Out Gets the Coney Island Nine a Game Closer to Yanks.

FRIDAY ~ FINAL SCORE:

BROOKLYN...9

Staten Island....4

...And then the Richmond County Baby Bombers' lead was 7.5 games.

Game one in the third installment of the Battle of the Boroughs goes to Brooklyn.  The division leading Yanks got sloppy with the ball; committing three errors; and Brooklyn busted out late to secure themselves a 9-4 victory to gain a game on the McNamara Division leaders.

The Seaside Sluggers opened the scoring in the fourth inning.  Cole Frenzel and Travis Tiajeron drove in Brooklyn's first two runs.   But Staten Island got one back in the bottom half of the inning, and scored the tying run an inning later to make it a 2-2 game after five.


It stayed like that till the seventh inning when Brooklyn busted out for five runs against the Yanks.  Staten Island brought in pitcher, Robert Paullus, to pitch the seventh.  A single; two walks; and a passed-ball; plated Brooklyn's third run.  It got worse.  He then walked his third batter; Javier Rodriguez.  Richard Lucas then followed with a two RBI single.  Robert Paullus followed that by hitting Cole Fenzel with a pitch; loading up the bases.  And that was the end of Robert Paullus' night.


Travis Taigeron singled off the next Yankee pitcher; Philip Wetherell; driving in another run for Brooklyn; making the score 8-2.  Philip then uncorked a wild pitched allowing Richard Lucas to score from third base with the fifth run of the inning for Brooklyn.


Staten Island scored two runs in the ninth.  But their comeback efforts fell way short.  Brooklyn won by a final score of 9-4 in front of a sold-out Staten Island crowd.

TODAY

GAME TWO



BATTLE of the BOROUGHS III

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

From

The Coney Island Seaside

in BROOKLYN

Mike.BTB

BKN Cyclones ~ The Surf Ave. Power Co.

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Baby Bums Turn Out The Lights On Hudson Valley.
FINAL:
BROOKLYN    16
Hudson Valley   5


They say competition always benefits the customers.  Now residents of Peekskill, N.Y., have a choice between local power companies.  Either stay with their present provider, or they can subscribe to the Surf Avenue Power Co. to squeeze some more juice out of their buck.

Thursday night up in the land of Renegades, Brooklyn starter; Chris Hilliard; got roughed up in the first innings as the Cyclones fell behind 4-0 right out of the gate.  Then starting in the fourth inning, the Surf Avenue Sluggers turned on the power and charged their way past Hudson Valley with seventeen volts hits.


On the strength of four doubles and a pair of singles, the Cyclones scored five times in the fourth inning to take a one run lead.  Then in the sixth inning, they jolted up the power some more.  Travis Taijeron hit a two run home run.  In the seventh inning, Richard Lucas added another two run home run.  Javier Rodriguez authored the biggest blast; a grand slam in the eighth inning.  And Dylan Brown capped off the power display in the ninth inning with the third two run homer, and fourth home run overall for Brooklyn this game.  Brooklyn was an electrifying 9 for 12 with runners in scoring position.


Chris Hilliard settled down after his first inning short circuit.  Overall, he pitched five innings and gave up four earned runs (two home runs in the first) and seven hits.  He walked two and struck out four in earning his third win (3-0) of the season.  He continues to add to his All-Time Cyclones record for wins by a Brooklyn pitcher.


Coney Freaks of the Night:
Javier Rodriguez ~ 3 for 5; Grand Slam; 6 RBI; 3 runs scored; 2 doubles.
Travis Taijeron ~ 3 for 5; home run; 3 RBI; 3 runs scored; double.
Ismael Tijerina ~ 3 for 5; 3 runs scored; double; lead-off hitter.
Dylan Brown ~ 3 for 5; home run; 2 RBI; 2 runs scored.


The Staten Island Yankees are cruising along in first place sporting an 11-2 record.  The second place Cyclones dropped to 2.5 games behind after Wednesday's loss to Hudson Valley and remained so after tonight's games went final.  The Cyclones have a 9-5 record.





Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ Staten Island; Phil Hughes Bow To Brooklyn

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bronx Bomber Phil Hughes Not Enough For Staten Island.  Coney Island Nine Take Rubber Game In First Meeting In The Battle Of The Boroughs.



The Staten Island Yankees needed Bomber's starter Phil Hughes, who's on rehab from the Bronx, to help get them out to an early two run lead against Brooklyn in the rubber game of their respective 2011 Opening Day Series.


The Lil' Spankees were feeling pretty good about themselves as Phil Hughes manhandled the Cyclones over his first four innings of work.  He walked one and gave up two hits to that point, but struck out seven Bums.  You might say his rehab was going pretty well today.


The Staten Islanders sent Phil Hughes out for the fifth inning.  That's when the catcher for the Surf Avenue Sluggers; Nelfi Zapata, who hails from the Bronx himself; stepped up and deposited the Major Leaguer's one out offering over the wall in left for a solo home run.  And with that blast, Phil Hughes' work was done for the day.


And so was the Staten Island Yankees' day for that matter.  With their Major League loan out of the game, the Cyclones went to work against the Yankees' bullpen; and more specifically Yankees' reliever; Wilton Rodriguez.  Over the next 2.2 innings, the Cyclones touched him for five hits and four runs.


The Cyclones grabbed their first lead of the afternoon in the sixth inning.  Ismael Tijerina doubled to to lead-off.  He advanced to third base and scored on a Richard Lucas sac-fly to center field.  Luke Stewart singled and moved to second when Juan Torres was hit by a pitch.  Travis Taijeron then singled home Stewart for a 2-1 Brooklyn lead.


The Yankees picked up a run in the top half of the seventh.  In the bottom half, Brooklyn added two more runs when Javier Rodriguez came through with a single off the second baseman scoring runners from second and third, giving the Cyclones a 5-3 lead they'd keep.


Brooklyn starter; Jeffrey Walters; handed in a representative effort.  In 4.1 innings, he allowed two hits and two runs (both earned).  He walked two and struck out four pitching to a no-decision.


Three Cyclone relievers kept the Yankees quiet the rest of the way.  Guillaume Leduc relieved Walters with 1.1 innings; two hits; and two strikeouts.  Today's winning pitcher; Hunter Carnevale; pitched two innings, allowing 2 hits and an unearned run while striking out four.  T.J. Chism closed things out for the Cyclones pitching the ninth inning.  In recording his first save of the season, he gave up a hit and struck out one.


7, 966 fans packed the park tonight.

MONDAY

June 20, 2011

Angel Pagan Bobble Head Night

Pagan is scheduled to throw out the First Pitch.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Aberdeen Iron Birds

From Surf Avenue, Coney Island

 

See You There!

Mike.BTB