Brooklyn Cyclones: Trying to Unseat Lowell Spinners from Wild Card Perch

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Edward L. LeLacheur Park 

Lowell, Massachussetts

Game Called

Saturday's series opener against the Lowell Spinners at LaLacheur Park is postponed do to rain.

Recent storm activity is a clear indication the dog days of baseball are upon us.  For Brooklyn that means seizing upon upcoming opportunities set to present themselves over their final 22 games of the regular season.

Six of those games will be against the first place Hudson Valley Renegades who the Cyclones presently trail in the McNamara Division standings by 3.5 games.  Brooklyn must also fend off equally tough Staten Island who they lead by two games, with three more against them yet to play.  That's nine games remaining against their primary competition with little margin for error.

In the Wild Card race, Brooklyn trails the Auburn Doubledays by 1.5 games, and are just one-half game behind the Lowell Spinners, therefore adding a sense of urgency to this weekend's series.  They have no games scheduled against Auburn.

The Cyclones have not qualified for the post-season since 2013.  Two years later they post their first ever losing, and haven't had a winning season since.  Last season is Edgardo Alfonzo's first as manager, who has them playing competitively with a 29-25 record.

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Six players will represent the Brooklyn Cyclones in this year's New York-Penn League All-Star game.

Standout pitcher Jaison Vilera leads the New York-Penn League with five victories versus just one loss with a league leading 1.43 ERA.  He also leads with 63 strikeouts through 50.1 innings pitched, and is second with a 0.87 WHiP.

Billy Oxford is tied for the league lead with Vilera with five victories all in relief.  He owns a 1.80 ERA over 17 appearances and 30 innings pitched, and a 1.30 WHiP.  Fellow reliever Yeudy Colon is 3-2 with a 1.18 ERA and two saves.He has 26 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched too o along with a 1.15 WHiP.

Outfielder Ross Adolph is slashing .261/.326/.425 with two home runs, 21 RBI, and seven stolen bases.  His fellow outfielder Wagner Lagrange is slashing .291/.370/.352, but with seven home runs and 30 RBI.  Second baseman Carlos Cortes is slashing .284/.349/.422, with three home runs and 19 RBI.

The New York-Penn League All-Start Game is scheduled for Aug 14, at Medlar Field, home of the College State Spikes.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Chance to Close Gap Swept Away

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Renegades Sweep Series 3-0

I - HVR 6; BKC 5

II - HVR 6; BKC 5

III - HVR 5; BKC 4

Brooklyn Cyclones fall to 5.5 game behind first place Husdon Valley Renegades

Brooklyn Cyclones: Look What The Renegades Did to Coney Island, Again!

Like an old Adam West Batman episode: Ooof!  POW!  Boom!  The Brooklyn Cyclones with three victories against Hudson Valley could have landed square on the Renegades door step.  Instead they are swept up, dumped in their team basket, and pushed back down the river three games further out of first place than when they first arrived at Dutchess County.

GAME ONE
Cyclones     5
Renegades  6

Brooklyn's standout starter Jaison Vilera suffers perhaps his worst outing of the season, surrendering four earned runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out seven.  However, the Cyclones take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth.  After retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the frame, Brooklyn reliever Yeudy Colon walks his next batter.  Two hits later its a one run game.  With runners on on second and third, Colon balks home the winning run.  Cyclones fall 5.5 back of the Renegades.

GAME TWO
Cyclones     5 
Renegades  6

The Cyclones blow a 3-0 first inning lead when Somerset ties the game with three of their own in the third.  Nick Meyer's sac-fly in the top of the fourth plated center fielder Anthony Dirocie from third for a 4-3 Ducks lead.  Hudson Valley strikes back in the home seventh when shortstop Ford Proctor triples home the tying run.  But Brooklyn regains the lead in the top half of the eighth on Jose Miguel Medina's RBI double.  Unfortunately, Cyclones reliever Ryley Gilliam does not secure it, walking the lead-off batter, then yielding a two run home run to game hero Ford Proctor.

GAME THREE
Cyclones     4
Renegades  5

In a slightly different narrative, the Cyclones and Renegades remain scoreless through the first three  frames.  Brooklyn then jumps out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Anthony Dirocie's RBI triple, and a subsequent E-3 allowing Dirocie to score.  But their advantage didn't last long at all.  Hudson Valley work over Cyclones starter Joshua Walker for four runs on three hits and a pair of walks in seizing a 4-2 lead.  This time it is Brooklyn who mount a ninth inning comeback and tie the game with two runs on three straight hits, and E-8, and the key sac fly by first baseman Brian Sharpe.  With one out in the home ninth, Brooklyn reliever Ronald Sanchez surrenders a one-out single to Adrian Rondon, who advances to second on a wild pitch.  Hudson Valley center fielder Bryce Browne singles up the middle, game over.