Brooklyn Cyclones 4 Lowell Spinners 3 (box).
They did it! For the
first time in Cyclones history, they are sole champions of the NY Penn League.
Truly an amazing job by Manager Edgardo Alfonzo and staff.
They did not have the best pitching (5th out of
14 teams), they did not score the most runs (6th most in the league), they didn’t
even steal the most bases (rank 5th) though they were aggressive on
the bases all year.
What did they excel in?
For one, fielding. They were
ranked first in the NY Penn league in fielding percentage. Another thing, manufacturing runs. Not only did they take extra bases to get
themselves in scoring position, they scored runs on outs time and time again.
They also had the knack to get tremendous pitching when they
needed it.
Tonight, Brooklyn turned to the same pitching tandem that
helped them to a 1-0 win in game two of the first playoff series, 2019 5th
round pick Nathan Jones, and 3rd round pick Matthew Allen.
Brooklyn jumped on top 2-0 in the bottom of the second. After Bretty Baty walked to lead off, Ranfy
Adon, one of Brooklyn’s hottest hitters this playoff season, doubled to left
field, putting runners at second and third.
Jake Ortega grounded to first base for the first out but then Jake Mangum
singled driving in Baty. Antoine
Duplantis grounded out to second scoring Adon.
In the top of the third, Nathan Jones started by recording
the first two outs. Then after a walk
and a single, Lowell’s hottest hitter, Joe Davis came up and singled to right
field. One run scored on the hit and
another on a wild throw and we were all tied 2-2.
Matthew Allen was up next to pitch for the Cyclones and he lived up
to his draft hype with three perfect innings and two strikeouts.
Meantime, once again Lowell was getting tremendous pitching
on their end, especially relief pitching.
In the third, Yusniel Padron-Artilles came on the pitch for the
Spinners. As Keith Raad told us on the Brooklyn
broadcast, in his last time out, a playoff game against Batavia, Yusniel
struck out 14 batters, including 12 in a row.
And so, the game went 2-2 until the top of the seventh. On to pitch the seventh for Brooklyn was 2019
NY Penn League all-star Mitch Ragan. Lowell
DH Marino Campana started off the inning with a homerun and it was Lowell 3 – Brooklyn
2.
The way Yusniel Padron-Artilles was pitching, it did not
look good for the home team.
Then in the bottom of the seventh and one out, Jake Mangum
singled giving Brooklyn hope. Antoine
Duplantis then tripled Mangum in and we were all tied 3-3. Yoel Romero followed with a single to drive
Duplantis in and Brooklyn had a 4-3 lead.
These were the only hits that Yusniel Padron-Artilles gave up in 5 innings
of relief and it was all that Brooklyn needed.
Lefty Andrew Edwards came in to pitch the eighth working
around a hit batter. He stayed on to pitch
the ninth.
It was not without tension.
Edwards gave up a lead-off single, then struck out Marino Campana who
had homered earlier. A one-out-walk
pushed the tying run to second but that was as far as he’d get.
Another hot Lowell hitter, lefty Stephen Scott then struck
out and it was up to Lowell pinch hitter Alex Erro. He did not have a chance. With the crowd on its feet, Andrew Edwards threw
three straight swing and miss strikes and it was all over.
The Brooklyn are your 2019 NY Penn League Champions.
Amazing win, from a team that epitomized "TEAM", and from a great manager in Edgardo Alfonso
ReplyDeleteAndrew Edwards was incredible of late. The 31st round lefty's last 3 outings? 7.1 IP, 4 hits, no runs, 2 walks, SEVENTEEN STRIKEOUTS! WOW!
And Matthew Allen in the 2019 draft is looking like a brilliant bold move by BVW.
Defense.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the writer on this site that always stressed middle field (C P SS 2B CF) defenve to win games???
I think his name was Mack something or other. Smart man.
ReplyDeleteI really hope the way Brooklyn was run this year becomes the new normal for Mets teams.
ReplyDeleteMack's always getting defensive on us. I prefer to take offense.
ReplyDeleteBtw, game time for this nine inning championship game? 2 hours 37 minutes!!!
ReplyDelete