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: 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: Begin Final Playoff Push With Win In Aberdeen

From the desk of:   THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:

Tyler Vanderheiden Gives Mates a Ninth Inning Scare.

Brooks Hold On For Win In Series Opener Versus Aberdeen.

 

Nine Games Left In Regular Season; Lead Wild Card By 2.5 Games

The countdown has begun.  Heading into Monday, ten games remained in the regular season.  And due to inconsistent play of late, Brooklyn's hold on the Wild Card has been slipping.  The Cyclones once led the Wild Card by as many as seven games.  Entering Monday's action, their lead had  dwindled down to two.


This week's schedule called for a road trip to Maryland.  And so, the Surf Avenue Sluggers were in Aberdeen tonight.  To open the series, Brooklyn's ace, Rainy Lara, was opposed by Iron Bird's starter, Lex Rutledge.


Through the first two innings, all remained quiet.  Then in the third, Brooklyn struck for the game's first run against Rutledge.  Cyclones second baseman, Richie Rodriguez, led off the inning with a single, then came around and scored when Dimas Ponce grounded into a fielder's choice.  Pitcher Lex Rutledge was removed after just three innings however.  Aside from the one run allowed, Aberdeen's starter only walked one batter and struck out four.


In the sixth inning, Brooklyn scored again, this time off Jamie Esquivel, who pitched four innings in relief of Lex Rutledge.  Jayce Boyd connected on his third home run of the season to give the Cyclones a 2-0 lead.


Rainy Lara completed six full innings of shutout ball and left on the winning side.  He allowed three scattered hits, walked one, and struck out four batters.  Matthew Koch was first out of the bullpen, and pitched himself into some trouble over 1.2 innings.  After surrendering a double in the eighth, Coach Donnelly turned to David Wynn, who finished out the frame, and kept the game scoreless.


Then, into the ninth inning they went.  In the top half, Brooklyn failed to secure an insurance run against Aberdeen's third pitcher of the evening, Jose Nivar.  For the bottom of the ninth, Coach Donnelly put the ball in Tyler Vanderheiden's hand.  After retiring the first two batters he faced, it looked like a good move too.  Then Coach Donnelly's closer suffered an acute bout of the yips.  With two outs mind you..., a double, a hit by pitch, a single, and an E-7 later, the Iron Birds were halfway to achieving a tie with that runner on third.  But Tyler Vanderheiden regrouped, and struck out Aberdeen's Chase Weems swinging for out number three.


Tyler Vanderheiden was credited with his tenth save of the season.  But Monday night's true king of the hill was Brooklyn's starting pitcher.  Rainy Lara earned his eighth win of the season, which ties him for the New York Penn League lead.  His 0.97 WHiP ranks seventh in the circuit.  In sixty-one innings pitched this season, he has limited batters to forty-nine hits, while issuing a mere ten walks.  His sixty-nine strikeouts rank second in the League behind his teammate Luis Mateo.


The Cyclones were actually limited to four hits.  Equally lacking, Brooklyn batted one for six with runners in scoring position.  Aberdeen doubled Brooklyn's output with eight hits.  But Brooklyn's strength; their pitching; have often made two runs stand up before.  And moving forward, they will most likely need to continue that trend.


The Cyclones have also received little in the way of out of town help over the last ten games or so.  Finally, Mother Nature found favor with the Baby Bums Monday night, and Brooklyn's neighbor and rival, the Staten Island Yankees, even provided their fellow New Yorker with an assist as well.


In the Ball Park at St. George, the Bombers hosted, then tossed the Hudson Valley Renegades into the drink.  The Yankees 8-2 win over the Renegades allowed Brooklyn to gain one game on the McNamara Division leaders.  But with nine games now left in the season, the Brooks are still six games back of first.  Stranger things have happened though.  No?


In the more pressing Wild Card race, Monday night's game in Ohio between the Batavia Muckdogs versus the Mahoning Vally Scrappers was rained-out.  So for now, Brooklyn's win allowed them to creep away from Batavia by a half game, at least for a night.  Coney Island's lead over the Muckdogs is now 2.5 games.  A double header most likely awaits the Muckdogs and Scrappers on Tuesday.





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 ~ 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 ~ 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 ~ 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 ~ Battle of the Boroughs II; Yanks Take Game Two

From the desk of:   THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS - II

I - Brooklyn Wins Series 3-1

Brooklyn 2; Staten Island 0

Brooklyn 4; Staten Island 1

Brooklyn 7; Staten Island 2

Staten Island 8; Brooklyn 1

II - Series Tied 1-1

Brooklyn 1; Staten Island 0

Staten Island 4; Brooklyn 2

Game Three in St. George

Game Four in Coney Island

 

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Baby Bombers Gain Spilt After Game Two.  Teams Head Back Over Verrazano Bridge For Game Three in Staten Island.  Series Wraps Up in Coney Island on Sunday.


In the opening game of their second series together, the visiting first place Cyclones needed fifteen innings In Staten Island to put away the Yankees.  Starting pitcher, Gabriel Ynoa pitched six shutout innings and give up one lone hit to Staten Island batters.  He walked two and struck out three before exiting a scoreless game.  Staten Island's Andrew Benack last four innings for the Yankees and surrendered four hits and no runs before giving way to the bullpen.


For the game, Staten Island's pitching was getting by, somehow managing Brooklyn for fourteen innings.  The Cyclones wrapped eleven total hits, with four doubles in the game.  But the Seaside Sluggers had troubles pushing runs across the plate as they batted a mere 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.  The Yankees didn't fare much better batting 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.  Seven Brooklyn pitchers limited the Yankees to four hits all game.


Late in the night, Dimas Ponce led off the top of the fifteenth inning with a double off the fifth Staten Island pitcher, Alex Smith, who was in his third inning of work.  Dimas moved to third on Jonathan Clark's bunt single.  Richie Rodriguez then lifted a fly to center, on which Dimas Ponce tagged-up from third and scored the games only run.


Out of Brooklyn's bullpen came Tyler Vanderheiden to preserve the lead and end the game.  He made it interesting by walking a batter and hitting another.  But with a strike out, and inducing his last batter into a game ending double play, his sixth save of the season was secured, as was the Brooklyn Cyclones' twentieth win.

*

The series crossed over the Verrazano and headed back to Coney Island for Friday night's second game of the series.  Under threatening skies and Fall type weather conditions, Staten Island took an early 1-0 lead after two innings, and a 3-0 lead after three against Boardwalk Bum starter, Luis Mateo, who was making his sixth start this season, and in search of his fifth win.  But the Baby Bombers had other ideas.


The Yankees' Gabriel Encinas managed five innings pitched.  He allowed six hits and one earned run.  He struggled a bit walking for, but also recorded four strikeouts.  Evan DeLuca took over for Encinas and pitched the next two innings, and also allowed Brooklyn one run.  But that's all the Surf Avenue Sluggers would get this night.  Stefan Lopez and Taylor Garrison kept the Cyclones subdued over the last two frames to preserve a 4-2 Yankees victory.


Brooklyn scored lone runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  Kevin Plawecki had an RBI single to put the 'Clones on the board.  In the sixth, Jayce Boyd led off with a double.  The next batter, Eudy Pina, also doubled to drive in Boyd for the home team's second and last run of the evening.  In this game, the Cyclones batted 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.  That makes them three for their last twenty-four times at bat with RiSP.


Starting pitcher Luis Mateo is now 4-2 on the season.  He pitched six full, and allowed six hits, and four earned runs.  He surrendered one home run, walked three and struck out three.  Beck Wheeler and Ernesto Yanez combined on three stellar innings in relief however.  Wheeler struck out four batters in two innings of work.  Neither allowed Staten Island a hit, and issued no walks.


Brooklyn's lead in the McNamara Division is now just one game over the Hudson Valley Renegades, who defeated the Aberdeen Iron Birds by a 3-2 score Friday evening up in Fishkill, N.Y.  Staten Island's third place standing is unchanged.  They now sport a 13-19 record, and are seven games back of the Cyclones.


Friday's loss drops Brooklyn to 8-8 at home.  They have not enjoyed the dominance yet, they are so accustomed toused to in Coney Island.  On the road is where they have played best, to the tune of a 12-4 record.  The hottest team in the League, the Stedler Division leading Tri-Citi Valley Cats are tops in the circuit with twenty-four wins.  The Cyclones are second with twenty.




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 ~ 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