N.Y. Yankees: C.C. Sabathia Adds to Milestone Season

From the desk of:  THE HOUSE HAL INHERITED

SABATHIA AT THE GATES

Solidifying Bid for Hall of Fame

It's mid June and there exists an American League East battle for first place which does not presently involve the Red Sox - at least not yet.  Instead, the Yankees are hosting the under spoken yet threatening second place Tampa Bay Rays whom after losing games one and two in the Bronx entered Wednesday's game 2.5 games back of the first place Yankees.  Looking to avoid a sweep the Rays face Yankees starter CC Sabathia who is making the 550th start of his career.

Suffice it to say things do not go Tampa's way as the Yankees jump out to a 6-0 first inning lead.  Once on the hill Sabathia faces 24 batters through six innings, throwing 94 pitches with 59 (62%) going for strikes.  He yields just one run on a mere three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts en route to his fourth victory of the season.

The victory marks the 250th win of CC Sabathia's 19-year career.  He now boasts a 250-157 (.613) career record with a 3.71 ERA.  This also marks his 133rd victory since joining the Yankees eleven season ago.  He previously won 117 games pitching for the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers.

Sabathia becomes only the 48th pitcher in MLB history to achieve 250 wins.  Earlier this season, he became only the 17th pitcher in MLB history to achieve 3,000 strikeouts.  Moreover, he becomes only the 13th pitcher and only the second southpaw to achieve both 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts.

A six time all-star Sabathia won the A.L. Cy Young award in 2007 while pitching for Cleveland.  He then became a World Series champion and series MVP in 2009 while leading both the Yankees and American League with 19 victories.  In 2010, he led the American League a second straight season with 21 wins.

I can not say enough good things about the man.  He's an extremely influential person both in the locker room and on the field.  He adheres by old school standards knowing exactly when to apply traditional justice with unfailing duty and dedication to his mates.  He's also a husband and man of values who acts with conviction lest we forget he opted to attend rehab at his wife's behest despite the Yankees being in the midst of a pennant race.  That takes fortitude, and love.

One of the greatest persons to ever grace a New York City pitcher's mound ...

Amazin' Date 6/20/1969: Mets Defeat Bob Gibson at Packed Shea Stadium

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR.MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #61: Friday, June 20, 1969 - BR
St. Louis Cardinals @ New York Mets
Shea Stadium

Mets return from successful 8-4 road trip to a heroes welcome as 54,000 fans pack Shea Stadium to express their appreciation. 

On account of Tuesday's twin bill at Philadelphia, Nolan Ryan makes his second start of the season.  He is opposed by Cardinals ace Bob Gibson who straightaway must pitch out of trouble.  The Mets quickly load the bases in the first inning.  Cleon Jones drives home two with a single up the middle, and Art Shamsky follows with a sac fly to left scoring Wayne Garrett from third for a 3-0 lead.  Tommie Agee then leads off the second with a single and scores on Ken Boswell's triple into the right field corner.

St. Louis responds with two runs in the fifth on an RBI hit from Curt Flood, and a sac fly from Vada Pinson.  Nolan Ryan pitches a scoreless sixth and exits the game on the winning side of a 4-2 affair after yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  Making his 16th appearance Tug McGraw surrenders a solo home run in the seventh to Bob Gibson himself cutting the Cardinals deficit to one.  But that's as close as they'd get.  McGraw strikes out the side in the ninth to earn his fifth save.  Ryan improves his record to 3-0 on the season.

With Friday's victory the Mets enter uncharted waters rising seven games above .500 for the first time this season, and their first time ever.

• Mets Record: 34-27
• N.L. East: 2nd; 6 GB

L.I. Ducks: Somerset Patriots Tie Flock For First Place

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION SHOWDOWN

Patriots lead series 1-0

I - SOM 5; LID 2

II - WED @ SOM

III - THU @ SOM

With Game One Victory Somerset Forges Tie With Ducks Atop Liberty Division Standings.

Somerset roughs up Long Island starter Jake Fisher for five runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk through five innings, handing him his sixth loss of the season against three wins.  After ten starts his record falls to 3-6 while his ERA is up to 5.24 and climbing.

Patriots starter Brett Oberholtzer limited the Ducks to a pair of runs courtesy of Ramon Cabrera's two run double in the eighth.  Otherwise Oberholtzer yields four total hits and one walk with five strikeouts for his fourth victory of the season against just one loss.  The Ducks were limited to five hits all game.

With Somerset's victory on Tuesday, the Long Island Ducks and Patriots are now tied for first place of the Liberty Division.  The Patriots have now won four in a row, while the Ducks drop their third straight.

Amazin' Date 6/19/1969: Ken Boswell Hit in Ninth Lifts Mets Over Phils

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #60: Thursday, June 19, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies
Connie Mack Stadium

Ninth Inning Rally Gets Seaver Off Hook; Mets Take Series Finale at Connie Mack Stadium

A late New York rally in the ninth Thursday night at Connie Mack Stadium gives the Mets their third victory in four games over the Philadelphia Phillies, and moves them a half game closer to the first place Chicago Cubs.

The Phillies however mistreat Tom Seaver on this evening roughing him up for five earned runs on ten hits and five walks with eight strikeouts before forcing his exit on the losing side of a 4-5 affair in the bottom of the eighth.

Philadelphia produces their five runs with RBI hits from Johnny Callison and Rick Joseph, and with home runs from Mike Ryan and Cookie Rojas.  Through eight innings the Mets manage an RBI hit from Al Weis, a two run home run from Art Shamsky in the sixth, and a second Shamsky home run in the eighth.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, Ken Boswell singled home both Donn Clendenon and Ron Swoboda with the tying and winnings runs respectively.  Tug McGraw closed out the Phillies in the bottom half of the frame earning his fourth save of the season.  Ron Taylor is credited with the win for his work in the eighth in relief of Seaver.

The Mets wrap up their 12 game road trip with a triumphant 8-4 record.  They've now climbed to a season high six games above .500 for a second time and remain in striking distance of the Cubs.

• Mets Record:  33-27 (.550)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 6 GB

Brooklyn Cyclones Squeeze Out Game One Victory at Lowell

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

MONDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones   2

Lowell Spinners        1

FINAL

Brooklyn Trio Tangle Up Spinners.

Brooklyn starter Malky Mena turns in a stellar performance as he and two other Cyclones pitchers combine on a nine inning gem in game one of their series against the Spinners at Lowell, Massachusetts.

Malky Mena, promoted from the GCL Mets, faces 21 batters, throwing 75 pitches with a nifty 53 (70%) going for strikes.  He yields one earned run on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts through 5.2 innings en route to his first victory.  Justin Lasko and Andrew Edwards again team up in late relief of Mena with 2.1 innings of scoreless one-hit ball with no walks.  Edwards fans three in the ninth.

Center fielder Ranfy Adon leads-off the game with a single to center, then advances to second on a botched pick-off attempt by Lowell starter Bryan Lucas.  Adon soon moves to third on second baseman Wilmer Reyes hit to left.  Still with no outs, Brooklyn attempts a double-steal - Reyes is thrown out at second but Adon scores from third.  Lowell ties the game at one in the third.  But Brooklyn scores the eventual game winner in the fifth on shortstop Yoel Romero's lead-off triple, and catcher Ariel Yera's one out base hit through the left side.

Amazin' Date 6/18/1969: Jerry Koosman Blanks Phillies

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #59: Wednesday, June 18, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

Connie Mack Stadium

Making his tenth start of the season, Jerry Koosman goes the distance in leading the Mets through to a 2-0 victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.  Koosman and Phillies starter Rick Wise duel through five scoreless innings until Ed Kranepool finally breaks through with an RBI single scoring Cleon Jones in the sixth, and Wayne Garrett singles home Tommie Agee in the seventh staking the Mets to a 2-0 lead.  The Mets southpaw handles the rest, completing his whitewashing of the Phillies, yielding just four hits and one walk with six strikeouts en route to his fourth victory of the season.

Koosman evens his record at 4-4 to go along with a stellar 1.59 ERA.

The Mets gain a full game on the first place Cubs who lost in extra innings against the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

• Mets Record: 32-27 (.542)
• N.L. East: 2nd; 6.5 GB

Brooklyn Cyclones Lay Early Claim to Division Lead

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones Split Series w/ Ironbirds

I - ABD 4; BKN 3

II - BKN 4; ABD 1

TUESDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Lowell Spinner

FROM

LeLacheur Park

With Monday's victory the Cyclones gain a two game split with the Aberdeen Ironbirds, and coupled with their sweep of the Staten Island Yankees close out their season opening home stand with a successful 3-1 record.

New York Mets fifth round selection Nathan Jones makes his professional debut with two scoreless innings of no-hit ball with one walk and five strikeouts.  He faces just seven batters while throwing 39 pitches with 21 (53%) going for strikes.  Garrison Bryant up this season from (R) Kingsport takes over in the third yielding just one run on two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts though 4.1 innings en route to his first victory.  Also making his pro debut, Daniel Goggin pitches a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.  Four Brooklyn pitchers combine in limiting the Ironbirds to a run on just two hits and two walks with 14 strikeouts.

First baseman Joe Genord opened the scoring with a run scoring sac-fly in the first.  Second baseman and seventh round selection Luke Ritter then connected on his first home run as part of a three run third inning giving the Cyclones a 4-0 lead and ultimate 4-1 margin of victory.

Brooklyn now heads to Lowell where they'll take on the Spinners.

Home of the Lowell Spinners

N.Y. Yankees: Masahiro Tanaka Reminds Rays Who's Number One

From the desk of:  THE HOUSE THAT HAL INHERITED

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

SHOWDOWN

Tampa Bay Rays

vs.

New York Yankees

FROM

161st Street Grounds

Bombers Open Slim First Place Lead; Masahiro Tanaka Tosses Nine Inning Gem.

For the entirety of their existence Tampa has always been a regular season thorn in the Yankees side. In this latest episode they return to Bronx County a mere half-game behind the first place Yankees.  Toeing the rubber for Tampa is 25-year old right-hander Yonny Chirinos whom enters game one with a 7-3 record and 2.88 ERA.

None of which seems to matter much to the Yankees.  DJ LeMahieu's two run home run in the first, and Cameron Maybin's solo shot in the fifth are all the Bombers need as Masahiro Tanaka takes care of the rest.  Making his fifteenth start Tanaka tosses a complete game shut out allowing just two hits, no walks, and fanning ten en route to his fifth victory of the season.  He faces two batters over the minimum, throwing an economical 111 pitches with 76 (68%) going for strikes.

Monday's victory gives the Yankees a somewhat less precarious 1.5 game lead over second place Tampa.

This is a Fully Operational Death Star

Since taking two of three from the Red Sox, Brian Cashman has watched his team lose a series against a bad Toronto Blue Jays team; lose a second consecutive series against a fading Cleveland Indians team; split two games against the sub par Mets; then split four games against an equally pedestrian Chicago White Sox.

So what does he do?

Cashman trades for Edwin Encarnacion, whom presently leads the American League with 21 home runs.  The 36-year old has hit no less than 32 home runs in each of his last seven seasons and twice topped 40 home runs.  He's taken 401 career trips around the bases and owns an .851 career OPS.  In 2016 while with Toronto he hit a career high 42 home runs to go with a league leading 127 RBI.  He's also exceeded 100 RBI in each of the last four seasons and six times throughout his career.  Moreover, his rate of strikeouts isn't nearly as glaring as those of Gary Sanchez, Aaron Boone, and Giancarlo Stanton.

L.I. Ducks: Monday Swim 6/17/2019

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION SHOWDOWN

TUESDAY

Long Island Ducks

vs.

Somerset Patriots

FROM

New Jersey

Despite two straight loses the Ducks have done well fending of their Liberty Division competitors.  Last week they took two of three from the Somerset Patriots at Bethpage Park, then split four games against the High Point Rockers at North Carolina.  But they're not out of the woods yet.  On Tuesday, Long Island opens another three game series against the second place Patriots at Somerset.

Trailing the Ducks by just one game in the standings, the Patriots enter the series winners of three in a row.  On Sunday they joined the Ducks as the second Atlantic League team to achieve thirty victories.  Long Island enters Tuesday's action with a league best 31-18 record.

Oddly, the Ducks and Patriots rank sixth and seventh respectively in runs scored.  But where as the Ducks are tied for second with 50 home runs, the Patriots rank last with 21 home runs through 49 games.  As a team the Patriots are slashing .270/.343/.368/.711, while the Ducks own a .255/.325/.411/.736 team slash.  Both teams are tied for second with 43 stolen bases each.

Somerset's 3.32 ERA tops the league, while Long Island's 3.78 rates a respectable third.  The Patriots also lead the league with 22 saves.  Long Island however leads the league with a 1.26 WHiP, but only barely as the Patriots boast a 1.27 WHiP.  Long Island pitchers also lead the league with 404 strikeouts.

Somerset first baseman Will Kengor leads the league with a .337 batting average.  David Washington of the Ducks still leads with 16 home runs and is second with 38 runs batted in.

Patriots starter David Kubiak is presently pitching at triple crown levels, leading the league with six victories, a 1.33 ERA, with 58 strikeouts.

• Atlantic League

N.Y. Mets: Hot Summer Months Await The Polar Bear

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

With the Onset of Summer Looming How 

Will the Polar Bear Cope With the Heat?

Here we are mid-June, and the Mets 24-year old rookie first baseman remains one of the more under spoken stories in baseball not only locally but throughout the major leagues.  Pete Alonso has played in all but one game of the Mets 71 games to date during which he's slashing .263/.347/.604/.951, with 23 home runs and 53 RBI through his first 255 major league at-bats - all quite commendable by any measure.

So where does he rate this season among the rest of his senior circuit competition?  He is second in home runs; sixth in slugging; seventh in RBI; eighth in OPS; and 11th in WAR.

No rookie has impacted the Mets line-up quite like Alonso since Darryl Strawberry first donned a uniform during his 1983 ROY season when he slashed .257/.336/.512/.848, with 26 home runs and 74 RBI through 122 games and 420 at-bats.  Alonso has 52 games left before drawing equal with Strawberry's games played.  After which, about 40 or so games should remain in the regular season.  Suffice it to say Alonso is well on his way towards rewriting a Mets rookie record or two, or even three.

Of course all that remains to be seen ... in the meantime, credit goes to @Koosman2pointOh for Tweeting some very curious splits worth reiterating.


Some Good Splits:

• Hits with equal power both home (13) and away (12).
• RHP (.246; 15 HR; 35 RBI) vs. LHP (.291; 8 HR; 18 RBI).
• Slashing .350/.386/.900, seven home runs, 15 RBI, in Late and Close Games.
• Batting .318, eight home runs, 20 RBI, in Tie Games.
• Hit 12 of 23 home runs in 7th through 9th innings.
• Slashing .322/.398/.844, with 14 home runs, 29 RBI, vs. relief pitchers.
• Batting .284, with 13 of 23 home runs, and 13 RBI, with no runners on base.

And there's the rub ...

There was a lot more to Pete Alonso's home run against the Cardinals at Citi Field on Saturday than just it landing in the upper deck.  And no .. Jeff Wilpon's remarks had nothing to do with it.  But I would say Son of PON has no business near the players.  Why else employ a general manager?  Although it was nice having Alonso sticking it back to the COO, I digress.  Rather the point at hand is that Alonso's majestic blast occurred with two runners on base.


Some Bad and Some Ugly Splits:

• Slashing .233/.313/.459, with eight home runs, 21 RBI, vs. starting pitchers.
• Batting .226 with runners on base, nine home runs, 37 RBI.
• Batting .192 with RiSP, four home runs, 24 RBI.
• Batting .091 w/2 outs RiSP, 0 home runs, four RBI.
• 0 for 4 w/ bases loaded.

Let's chalk up these metrics to on-the-job training and see how he negotiates the next round of adjustments be it made by opposing pitchers or his own.  Otherwise he's doing a fine job overall including demonstrating proficiency at first base.

Even more noticeable however has been his propensity for assuming a leadership role and outwardly exerting himself as a motivator.  It's a curious situation and a somewhat odd role for a rookie to be taking upon himself.  But for as long as the other players particularly the more veteran types aren't countering him with resistance, then so be it for as long as his bat continues backing up his personality like it did during the recent Subway Series.  It was good seeing him rebound after a dormant first game against the Yankees with a home run in game two.

Nothing like a big hit on a big stage, right?

Because of the rather high bar Alonso has thus far set for himself Mickey Callaway and Mets fans alike can only hope he's mentally prepared and physically ready to handle the monumental task the front office stands poised to thrust upon his rookie shoulders.  For no one expects the front office (err ... the COO) to import the requisite premium talent needed for overtaking the division and National League.

Let them prove us all wrong.

Until then ...

Go Polar Bear, Go!

Amazin' Date 6/17/1969: Mets Split Twin Bill at Philadelphia

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #57: Tuesday, June 17, 1969 - BR

New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

Connie Mack Stadium/GAME ONE

Coming around the home stretch of a grueling 12-game road trip, the Mets arrive back on the east coast at Philadelphia for a series opening double-header against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.

Making his 13th start of the season, Gary Gentry bests Philadelphia's Bill Champion.  In what goes down as one of the finest performances by a Mets pitcher this season, Gentry tosses a complete game shutout, facing just three over the minimum while allowing but two hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.  He retired his final eight batters faced while improving to 6-5 for the season with a 3.41 ERA.

For his part Phillies starter Bill Champion lasts eight innings, allowing the game's only run in the seventh on a two out base hit from catcher J.C. Martin scoring Ken Boswell.  He otherwise yields four hits and four walks with five strikeouts in a losing effort.

The Mets had five hits all game with Boswell accounting for two of them in three at-bats.

Game #58: Tuesday, June 17, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

Connie Mack Stadium/GAME TWO

The Phillies come out swinging in game two, scoring early and often against Mets starter Don Cardwell.  Dick Allen opens with a two out home run in the first.  Four hits and an untimely error by second baseman Al Weis later and Philadelphia is staked to a 4-0 lead.  Cardwell surrenders his second home run of the game in the third, this time off the bat of center fielder Larry Hisle giving the Phillies a 6-0 lead.  Later in the eighth Hisle hit his second home run of the game.

The Mets scrap together three runs against Phillies starter Grant Jackson, but it wasn't enough.  Jackson yields six hits and three walks with nine strikeouts en route to a complete game victory.

In his first start as a member of the Mets, Donn Clendenon goes 1 for 4 with a run scored.

• Mets Record:  31-27 (.534)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 7.5 GB

Brooklyn Cyclones Complete Season Opening Sweep of Staten Island

From the desks of:  

THE CONEY ISLAND NINE  and  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS

STATEN ISLAND YANKEES 

OPENING DAY

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

FROM

Ballpark at St. George

Starter Jaison Vilera, after making brief appearances this season at (A+) Port St. Lucie and (A) Columbia, returns for his second season with the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Making his third start of the season and his first for the Cyclones, Vilera limits the Staten Island Yankees to just one run on one hit and two walks with five strikeouts through 6.2 innings.  In the seventh, however, all that hard work almost goes for not as Vilera and reliever Nelson Leon walk the bases loaded.  Leon then unleashes a wild pitch allowing Staten Island's first run of the game.  Newly drafted Justin Lasko is summoned from the pen to secure the final out.  Southpaw Justin Wilson, on rehab from the New York Mets, pitches a scoreless eighth.  And Andrew Edwards, making his first appearance as a professional, pitches a scoreless ninth to earn his first career save.

Brooklyn wins series 2-0

I - BKN 5; SIY 4

II - BKN 2; SIY 1

Manager Fonzie goes with the same line-up as Friday's home opener at Brooklyn.  Jose Mena's RBI single in the fourth gives Brooklyn a 1-0 lead.  And Joe Genord's sac-fly plates Brooklyn's second run in the seventh; his second RBI in as many games.

Last season with Brooklyn Jaison Vilera posted a 5-2 record over 13 starts with a 1.83 ERA.  He yielded just 50 hits and fanned 78 batters though 73.2 innings pitched.

Brooklyn sweeps the two game home-and-home series against the Yankees.

Next up, the Cyclones host the Aberdeen Iron Birds.

• NewYorkPennLeague.com

• NEWS:  The New York Mets have reached an agreement with their 2019 first round selection (12th overall) third baseman Brett Baty.  He is expected to report to Brooklyn shortly.

Brooklyn Cyclones Win Opening Day Match-Up Over Rival Staten Island

From the desks of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  and  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

OPENING DAY

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM 

CONEY ISLAND

Brooklyn Cyclones baseball is underway.  The Surf Avenue Sluggers open the 2019 season with a victory over the rival Staten Island Yankees Friday night at Coney Island.  Manager Edgardo Alfonzo tasked right-hander Daison Acosta with starting opening day.  The soon to be 21-year old yielded one earned run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts through 4.1 innings pitched.

In the bottom of the fourth, first baseman Joseph Genord connected on his first home run as a professional.  In the sixth, third baseman Nic Gaddis doubled home a run, and DH Jose Medina doubled home two more giving the Cyclones a 4-1 lead through six.  After the teams traded runs in the seventh, the Yankees threatened with two more runs in the eighth.  But Brooklyn reliever Brian Metoyer would pitch a scoreless ninth to secure Coney Island's 5-4 victory over Staten Island, and earn his first save of the season.  Luis Silva whom entered in the fifth in relief of Daison was credited with the win.  Cyclones pitchers were also erratic, unleashing five wild pitches, hitting a batsman, and committing a balk.

Staten Island starter Charlie Ruegger pitched well, albeit in defeat, surrendering just one earned run on three hits and no walks with five strikeouts.  Austin Gardner in relief of Ruegger takes the loss after yielding four earned runs on five hits and a walk in 1.1 innings pitched.

The Battle of the Boroughs crosses the Verrazano Bridge for game two at the Ballpark at St. George on Saturday.

Opening Day Starting Line-Up

• CF - Adon
• SS - Romero
• RF - Ashford
• 1B - Ganord
• 3B - Gaddis
• DH - Medina
• 2B - Ritter
• LF - Beracierta
• C - Yera

2019 Mets Draft; SNY
Brooklyn Cyclones
Brooklyn Baseball Reference


2019 AMATEUR DRAFT SELECTIONS

• Round 5) Nathan Jones; RHP (Northwestern St.)
• Round 6) Zack Ashford; OF (Fresno St.)
• Round 7) Luke Ritter; INF (Wichita St.)
• Round 9) Joseph Genord; INF (South Florida)
• Round 11) Jordan Martinson; LHP (Dallas Baptist)
• Round 15) Mitch Ragan; RHP (Creighton)
• Round 16) Nic Gaddis; C (Jacksonville St.)
• Round 17) Dan Goggin; RHP (James Madison)
• Round 30) Justin Lasko; RHP (UMass Amherst)
• Round 31) Andrew Edwards; LHP (New Mexico St.)

BEHIND the PLATE

• Ariel Yera - the Cyclones opening day catcher, he played two seasons (2015-2016) in the Cuban Serie Nacional.
• Jose Mena - promoted from (R) GCL Mets.
• Phil Capra - local product from Wagner College of Staten Island.  Played 32 games last season for (R) Kingsport Mets.

INFIELD

• Angel Manzanarez - second season with Brooklyn.
• Joseph Genord - round #9 out of South Florida.
• Nic Gaddis - round #16 out of Jacksonville State.
• Gavin Garay - promoted from (R) Kingsport Mets.
• Yoel Romero - already started the season playing in 19 games for (A+) Port St. Lucie and (A) Columbia.
• Wilmer Reyes - spent most of 2018 playing for (R) GCL Mets, played five games for (A+) Port St. Lucie.

OUTFIELD

• Zack Ashford - round #6 out of Fresno State.
• Anthony Dirocie - second season with Brooklyn, also played 23 games last season at (A) Columbia.
• Guillermo Granadillo - touched Brooklyn in 2017, spent last season playing for (R) Kingsport.
• Ranfy Adon - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Raul Beracierta - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Jose Medina - back for his third season at Brooklyn.
• Zach Rheams - played for (A) Columbia last season, started this season again playing 14 games at Columbia.

PITCHERS

• Nathan Jones (R) - round #5 out of Northwestern State.
• Jordan Martinson (L) - round #11 out of Dallas Baptist.
• Mitch Ragan (R) - round #15 out of Creighton.
• Daniel Goggin (R) - round #17 out of James Madison.
• Justin Lasko (R) - round #30 out of UMass Amherst.
• Andrew Edwards (L) - round #31 out of New Mexico State.
• Matt Mullenbach (R) - out of Lincoln Memorial University.

• Brian Metoyer (R) - promoted from (R) GCL Mets.
• Malky Mena (R) - promoted from (R) GCL Mets.
• Nelson Leon (R) - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Daison Acosta (R) - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Christian Tripp (R) - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Luis Silva (R) - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Matt Cleveland (R) - promoted from (R) Kingsport.
• Garrison Bryant (R) - promoted from (R) Kingsport, made one appearance this season for (A) Columbia.
• Yeudy Colon (R) - second season with Brooklyn.

After spending the last three seasons playing in the Venezuelan League, Mexican League, and most recently for the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League, Endy Chavez finally retired from playing and begins his first season as a coach with the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Edgardo Alfonzo enters his fourth season with the Cyclones and is third season as field manager.  The Cyclones have failed to make the playoffs in each of the previous six seasons.  After three straight seasons of finishing below the .500 mark, the Cyclones improved to 40-35 last season under Fonzie - a 16 game improvement over the 2017 season.

Amazin' Date 6/15/1969: Mets Acquire Donn Clendenon From Expos

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

AMAZIN'

THE MIRACLE METS

50th ANNIVERSARY

Game #56: Sunday, June 15, 1969 - BR
New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium

• NEWS: METS ACQUIRE FIRST BASEMAN DONN CLENDENON FROM MONTREAL EXPOS.  Clendenon has averaged 16 home runs over the last six seasons with a career high 28 home runs and 98 RBI in 1966 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The 33-year old appeared in 38 games in his first with the Expos, hitting .240 with four home runs and 14 RBI through 129 at-bats.  Gil Hodges is likely to utilize him in a first base platoon with lefty Ed Kranepool.  Outfielder Amos Otis was sent down to (AAA) Tidewater after Sunday's game against the Dodgers to make room for on the roster for Clendenon.

Mets Lose Rubber Game at Dodger Stadium: Fall Nine Games Back of Cubs

Los Angeles starter Don Drysdale pitched just well enough to turn back the Mets and help lead the Dodgers to victory in the rubber game of their series at Chavez Ravine.  He limited the New Yorkers to a pair of runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts through 5.2 innings pitched.  Jim Brewer arguably pitched better yielding but one hit through 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in relief of Drysdale.  Brewers effort earned his seventh save of the season.

Mets starter Jack DiLauro sustained his first loss of the season after allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout over six innings pitched.  Cal Koonce and Ron Taylor contributed two innings of scoreless relief.

The Mets scored their only two runs in the third on a sac-fly by Wayne Garrett and a RBI hit from Cleon Jones.  Tommie Agee was 3 for 4 with a run scored.  Right fielder Andy Kasko homered for the Dodgers in the second.  Two more runs in the fourth gave Los Angeles their ultimate 3-2 margin of victory.

• Mets Record:  30-26 (.535)
• N.L. East:  2nd; 9 GB

L.I. Ducks Open High Point Series With Victory Over Rockers

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks Lead High Point; 1-0

I - LID 5; HPR 3

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

HIGH POINT ROCKERS

FROM

North Carolina

The Flock Tightening Grip on Liberty Division.

After taking two of three from the Patriots, a confident Flock migrate to North Carolina where they turn back the division's third place competitor in the opening game of a crucial four game weekend series against the High Point Rockers.

Remarkably, Long Island continues getting strong pitching from the proverbial next man up.  Having had seven starters pilfered by MLB organizations, recently acquired Travis Banwart climbed the hill making only his second start as a member of the Ducks.  After allowing just a run on four hits en route to a seven inning no-decision during his first appearance with Long Island, Banwart turned in another seven inning effort in which he blanked the Rockers on just three hits and two walks with three strikeouts to earn his first victory.  Making only his fourth appearance for the Ducks, Josh Lueke earned his fourth save of the season.

David Washington drove in his league leading 38th RBI of the season with his league topping 16th home run of the season.  Ezequiel Carrera was 3 for 4 and hit his first home run of the season.  L.J. Mazzilli went 2 for 4 with two RBI and is hitting .321 for the season.

With Friday's series opening victory the Ducks improve to a league best 30-16 record, and open a 4.5 game lead over the Rockers.  Somerset defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to stay within 2.5 games of the Ducks.  All four Liberty Division competitors are presently playing above the .500 mark.  The same can not be said of the Freedom Division where only the Sugar Land Skeeters are playing above par.