Brooklyn loses 3-1, best of three NY Penn Championship series tied 1-1.

Lowell Spinners 3  Brooklyn Cyclones 1 (box).

When it comes to playoff baseball one bad inning could make or break the entire game. 

For Brooklyn and their starter Frank Valentino on Monday night it happened in the second. 

Frank who pitched great against Staten Island his last time out started off a little rocky Monday night.

In the top of the first, he gave up a walk and a single but was helped out by some fine defense from shortstop Wilmer Reyes and did not give up any runs.

In the second, he was not as fortunate. After a lead-off single, Frank induced a ground ball to Cyclones second baseman Luke Ritter that looked like a double play ball.  However, the ball got by Luke for a error putting runners on first and third.  After another base hit scored Lowell’s first run, Brooklyn really got a bad break.

Lowell left fielder, Will Dalton, the number nine hitter squared to bunt,  offering at the ball.  The ball appeared to tip off the bat hitting him in the head.  Strike, right?  No, after a conference the umpires called it a hit by pitch bases loaded.  Edgardo Alfonzo came out to argue, demonstrating to the umpires how Dalton offered at the pitch.  The ruling stood and the Lowell Spinners had the bases loaded. 

Lowell center fielder Gilberto Jimenez singled and Lowell had a 3-0 lead.

Brooklyn came back in the bottom of the second.  With one out, Joe Genord recorded his first of three hits, with a single.  Then after a Jake Mangum strikeout, Brett Baty went the other way for a double and the Cyclones had two on and two out.

Ranfy Adon beat out an infield single and it was Lowell 3 – Brooklyn 1.

After Ranfy stole second, Jake Ortega came up with runners on second and third and a chance to tie the game.  Jake flew out to left field and that was that.

Frank Valentino settled down after that going 4.1 innings striking out 5.  After giving up a double in the top of the fifth, Frank struck out Joe Davis with his seventy second pitch and his night was over.  Corey Gaconi came on and retired the side without the runner at second scoring.

Meanwhile Boston’s 2019 fourth round draft pick, Noah Song, held Brooklyn to one run in three innings and their 2019 sixth round pick, Chris Murphy limited Brooklyn to two hits over the next four innings.

Brooklyn had a chance in the bottom of the sixth.  With one out Luke Ritter and Joe Genord both singled.  Jake Magnum grounded softly to shortstop putting runners at second and third with two out for Brett Baty.  Brett has been impressive since his call up, going 2 for 3 in the first game of the series and doubling in his first at bat in this game.  After working the count to 3-2, Brett stuck out on a sinker and the last best hope for Brooklyn was done.

Joe Genord did lead off the ninth with his third hit of the night but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.  Lowell right handed pitcher, Kris Jackson, then struck out Jake Mangum (in an epic 12 pitch at-bat that saw Jake foul off 8 straight piches!) and Brett Baty to end the game. 

It all comes down to Tuesday at 6:30. It will be the Cyclones or the Spinners as the next NY Penn champion.  Either way, it has been an exciting ride all season.