Aberdeen Ironbirds Defeat Brooklyn Cyclones to Knot Series

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE

NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF

Aberdeen IronBirds vs. Brooklyn Cyclones

I - BKN 8; ABD 1

II - ABD 6; BKN 1

Series Tied at One; Decisive Game Three on Friday

The IronBirds brought Brooklyn's momentum to an abrupt halt Thursday evening at Aberdeen.  Facing right-hander Dominic Hamel, the Birds scored early and often, knocking the Cyclone starter out of the box after the fourth.  Hamel allowed five earned runs on five hits and four walks, and the Bird's pitching made it stand.  The Clones were held to four hits and two walks.  Third baseman William Lugo spoiled the shutout with a solo home run in the fifth.  Aberdeen scored against Sammy Tavarez in the seventh inning for a 6-1 lead and the final margin of victory.  The season hangs in the balance for the respective teams, the loser goes home, and the winner advances to the SAL championship series.

Wilmington Blue Rocks Pound Brooklyn Cyclones

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Wilmington vs. Brooklyn

I - BKN 2; WIL 1

II - WIL 11; BKN 7

Cyclone Bullpen Suffers Late-Inning Rock Slide

Everything started so marvelously.  Second baseman Jose Peroza singled home Brooklyn's first run, catcher Jose Mena hit a three-run home run to left field, William Lugo followed with a solo shot to center, and the Cyclones were off and running with a 5-0 first-inning lead.  

Wilmington scored once in the third, but Matt Rudick gave Brooklyn a 6-1 lead in the fourth.  

Starter Christian Scott was removed after the fourth, allowing one run on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts.  

Afterwhich, the bullpen suffered a significant implosion.  The Blue Rocks rallied for two runs in the sixth, two in the seventh, and six in the eighth, highlighted by Leandro Emiliani's grand slam.  The Cyclones' only response was William Lugo's RBI single in the seventh.  Right-hander Dylan Hall both suffered a blown save and took the loss.  

But there's good news!  Our Jersey Shore neighbors swept a double-header from our northern rivals at Dutchess County Stadium.  Thanks to the BlueClaws, Brooklyn gained a half-game lead in the standings ahead of the Renegades with only ten left to play.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Complete Sweep at Jersey Shore

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn vs. Jersey Shore

I - BK 7; JS 0

II - BK 5; JS 4

III - BK 8; JS 5

IV - BK 7; JS 5

V - BK 8; JS 3

VI - BK 18; JS 1

Cyclones Wipe Out Jersey Shore

Brooklyn wrapped up their business at Jersey Shore with a rout of the BlueClaws.  Shortstop Shervyen Newton cleared the bases in the second with a three-run double.  The Cyclones added four in the third on Stanley Consuegra's two-run dinger and runs batted in by Matt O'Neill and Matt Rudick for a seven-run lead.  Third baseman William Lugo followed with a three-run home run in the fourth.  

Afterwhich, the tide went out on the rest of Jersey Shore's pitching.  The Cyclones scored seven times in the fifth inning on three hits, five walks, and a hit-by-pitch, then tacked one more run for good measure in the visitor's ninth.  Lugo was the big man on campus, going 4 for 6 with four runs batted in and four runs scored.  Newton was 3 for 4 with two walks, a double, four runs batted in, and two runs scored, and catcher Matt O'Neill had three runs batted in.

Starter Keyshawn Askew walked the bases loaded in the first inning and, with two outs, was removed from the game.  Into the fray entered Nathan Lavender, who secured out number three.  Lavender continued to hurl three scoreless innings of one-hit baseball with seven strikeouts.  The Blue Claws spoiled the shutout against Jeffrey Colon in the sixth.  Otherwise, Colon allowed three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over the final five innings.  Lavender earned the win, and Colon the save.  Together, Brooklyn limited the BlueClaws to four hits, and three walks, with 17 strikeouts to complete the series sweep at ShoreTown Ballpark.  BOXSCORE

Up at Dutchess County Stadium, the Hickory Crawdads blew a 6-4 lead through the fifth.  Hudson Valley answered with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh en route to a 9-7 win.  The 'Gades retain its half-game lead over the Cyclones with only two series and twelve games left in the season.  The Aberdeen Ironbirds lost at Wilmington to fall 2.5 games back of the Renegades.  If the Renegades or Cyclones win the second-half flag, they will meet the first-half champs from Aberdeen.

Hudson Valley Pounds Brooklyn for Division Lead

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley vs. Brooklyn

I - HVR 7; BKN 4

II - BKN 7; HVR 5

III - HVR 11; BKN 4

Cyclones Get Beached on Coney Island

The North Division pendulum continues to swing.  Thursday, it went back in Hudson Valley's favor.

Brooklyn's Jose Peroza remains red hot and, in the opening frame, doubled home the game's first run.  He drove in two Cyclones' runs, with William Lugo and Alex Ramirez knocking in the others. 

Otherwise, game three was all Renegades, who scored early, often, and late en route to an 11-4 game three victory.

Brooklyn starter Tommy Hunter opened with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Right-hander Junior Santos followed but had his offerings punished, allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks in three innings pitched for the loss.  After Nathan Lavender hurled two scoreless innings, Justin Courtney was next to get punished for four runs on four hits, including two home runs. 

Afterwhich, Sammy Tavarez was needed to secure the last out in the ninth.  BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Retake First Place With Victory Over Hudson Valley Renegades

From the desk: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Hudson Valley vs. Brooklyn

I - HVR 7; BKN 4

II - BKN 7; HVR 5

Coney Island Strikes Back!

The Cyclones set the tone of this game with a three-run second inning.  With one out and the bases loaded, Matt O'Neill singled home a run, shortstop Shervyen Newton drew a walk to force home a second run, and Jaylen Palmer scored on Matt Rudick's sac-fly to center.  The teams traded runs in the third inning.  Third baseman Tyler Hardman homered for Hudson Valley, and William Lugo drove in a run for Brooklyn.  Second baseman Jose Peroza then singled home a run in the fifth, and William Logo homered off the left field scoreboard in the seventh.

Jose Peroza and William Lugo joined together for six hits in eight at-bats, with two extra-base hits, three runs batted in, and three runs scored.

Making a spot start in only his second appearance with Brooklyn, right-hander Jeffrey Colon allowed a run (home run) on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.  Right-hander Nolan Clenney followed with 2.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with two strikeouts.  Making his third appearance with Brooklyn, southpaw Keyshawn Askew hurled three scoreless innings through the eighth but encountered trouble, yielding three runs in the ninth.  Afterwhich, Daison Acosta was called upon to close out the frame.  Another base runner crossed home, making it a 7-5 Cyclone lead.  Acosta then put the tying run on base with a walk.  Finally, at 9:57 pm, Daison Acosta struck out designated hitter Spencer Henson to end the game.  Nolan Clenney gets the win.  BOXSCORE

With the victory, the Cyclones retake first place by one half-game over the Hudson Valley Renegades.  

Brooklyn Cyclones Go Down Quietly in Wilmington

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

III - BKN 7; WIL 6*

IV - WIL 7; BKN 1

Junior Santos Gets Knocked Around; Blue Rocks Even Series

The Cyclones were limited to just four hits in Friday's contest, two of which came in the third inning when William Lugo and Alex Ramirez generated Brooklyn's lone run of the game.  Left fielder Matt Rudick and Shervyen Newton accounted for the 'Clones only other hits.  The lineup drew for walks and fanned eleven times.  Starter Junior Santos was knocked around for five runs on ten hits, including a two-run home run in the sixth, and Justin Courtney fared no better, allowing two runs on a hit and three walks in 1.1 innings.  However, the Cyclones maintain their first-place standing as the Aberdeen Ironbirds blanked the Hudson Valley Renegades ten to zero.

Brooklyn Cyclones Move Back Into First With Defeat of Wilmington Blue Rocks

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

III - BKN 7; WIL 6*

*12 innings

Cyclones Outlast Blue Rocks for Twelve-Inning Win

Brooklyn was required to work overtime, but after a long night at Frawley Stadium, their efforts finally paid off.  

Making his second start with the Cyclones, left-hander Keyshawn Askew was roughed up for four runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings.  

But Askew's mates got him off the hook.  Wilmington opened with three runs in the second and a single run in the third.  Brooklyn recovered two in the third on a Blue Rocks' error and a sac-fly, and Jaylen Palmer doubled home a run in the fourth to pull the 'Clones within one.  In the fifth, Brooklyn took their first lead of the game on shortstop William Lugo's two-run home run to left field.  

Afterwhich, the score remained unchanged through the eighth.  

With two outs in the home ninth, the Blue Rocks doubled home the game-tying run, and into extra innings, they went.  After a scoreless tenth, the teams traded runs in the eleventh; first baseman Joe Suozzi scored on a fielder's choice, and Wilmington scored on a sac-fly.  In the visitor's twelfth, Stanley Consuegra scored the go-ahead run on Jose Mena's fielder's choice to short.  

Despite blowing a save opportunity in the eleventh, right-hander Daison Acosta hurled a scoreless twelfth inning to earn the win.

Coupled with Hudson Valley's loss to Aberdeen, the Cyclones own a half-game lead over the Renegades in the North Division standings.

BOXSCORE

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Wilmington Blue Rocks

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

II - BKN 8; WIL 1

Joe Suozzi Causes Rock Slide in Wilmington

Brooklyn bounced back from Tuesday's opening loss to defeat Wilmington and even the series at one.

Second baseman Jose Peroza doubled home a run in the first inning, then reached on a fielder's choice, and scored in the third.  First baseman Joe Suozzi cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to right field as part of a six-run fourth inning, giving the Cyclones an 8-0 lead.  

The Blue Rocks finally manufactured a run in the home fourth to ruin the shutout.  Otherwise, the Blue Rocks were limited to six hits.  

Making his sixth start with Brooklyn, starter Dominic Hamel allowed one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts in five innings for the win.  He improved to 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA.  Southpaw Nathan Lavender yielded a hit and fanned a pair in two innings, and fellow left-hander Cam Opp closed things out with two scoreless innings.

Leadoff batter Matt Rudick was 2 for 4 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored.  With seven home runs, Joe Suozzi tied Jaylen Palmer for the team lead.  In his second game with Brooklyn, third baseman William Lugo donned the golden sombrero, going 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.

The win snaps a two-game skid and gets the Cyclones (52-52) back to par.  Hudson Valley defeated Aberdeen to maintain their half-game lead over Brooklyn.  BOXSCORE.

Brooklyn Cyclones Bow to Wilmington Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium

From the desk: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

FRAWLEY STADIUM

Brooklyn vs. Wilmington

I - WIL 9; BKN 3

Cyclones Can Not Recover From Early Deficit

After a half-hour rain delay, Brooklyn starter Oscar Rojas issued a walk to the first batter he faced, and two doubles later, the Blue Rocks owned a prompt 2-0 lead.  

An error by the shortstop Shervyen Newton in the second inning helped the Rocks to a third run, and Oscar Rojas was dispatched to the showers.  After a scoreless third, Wilmington manufactured a run in the fourth for a 4-0 lead.

Despite wielding ten hits, the Cyclones were held scoreless through the fifth.  Catcher Jose Mena's hit finally got Brooklyn on the board in the sixth.  Brooklyn then appeared to put this game back up for grabs with two runs in the top of the eighth.  Third baseman William Lugo doubled home a run, and Jose Mena delivered home another, cutting Brooklyn's deficit to one.

However, their confidence was quickly shattered in the bottom of the eighth.  The Cyclones suffered a bullpen implosion as right-hander Nolan Clenney surrendered five runs on three hits and three walks to put the game out of reach.

• BOXSCORE

The Cyclones were not without their chances.  They had runners on the corners with one out in the first and stranded them.  Brooklyn loaded the bases with one out in the second, leaving them stranded again.  With two outs in the third and Stanley Consuegra poised at second, the Cyclones failed to come up with a clutch hit.

With Tuesday's loss, the Cyclones' overall record falls back under .500 but, more importantly, they slip to second place in the second-half standings, one-half game behind the Hudson Valley Renegades.