Matt Barravecchio - Cyclones June 16-22 Recap

  

On June 16^th the Cyclones took on the Nationals affiliate the Wilmington Blue Rocks, and Jaison Vilera took the bump for Brooklyn. The 22-year-old international signee has struggled thus far this season posting a 9.10 FIP and surrendering 4.38 HR/9 through six appearances with Brooklyn. Vilera performed solidly in this outing (5 IP, 2 R); however, the Cyclones fell 5-2 to the Blue Rocks. The Mets #2 prospect kicked off the scoring in this game in the top of the sixth launching his seventh homer of the season with a two-run shot to right-center driving in Cody Bohanek who singled on a liner to right. However, this lead was short-lived, and these 2 runs would be all the Cyclones could manage in this game. In the bottom of the frame, Vilera gave up base hits to Justin Connell and Jake Alu before being pulled. Eric Orze, who replaced Vilera, did him no favors giving up three singles, a walk, and a sac fly, which handed Vilera his 2 earned runs and the Cyclones a 5-2 deficit where the game would stay till its finish. On the bright side for the Cyclones, Mauricio continued to break out of his prior 0-21 skid with 2 hits including the 2-run shot, and Brett Baty, the Mets #4 prospect continued his impressive season so far with two more hits.

    On June 17^th the Cyclones again took on the Blue Rocks and the Nationals #16 prospect Joan Adon. For the Cyclones, Alec Kisena took the mound looking to add to his solid season as he had posted a 3.21 ERA WITH A 35% K% before entering this start. Unfortunately for Kisena and the Cyclones he had his roughest outing of the season giving up nine hits and six earned runs in only 3.1 innings of work as the Cyclones fell 8-4. The scoring began in the bottom of the third when Brady Lindsly hit a solo shot to right for the Blue Rocks. Then, after walking Jack Dunn and giving up a single to Justin Connell, the Nationals' #15 prospect Israel Pineda doubled to center to drive them in. Things did not get easier for Kinsena in the next inning as he gave up a single to the Nationals' #4 prospect Yasel Antuna who was driven in by a Gilbert Lara double. The, like déjà vu, Kisena gave up another single to Jack Dunn who was driven in by a Kyle Marinconz double. Alec’s nightmare outing was finally finished after he gave up a single to Justin Connell as skipper Ed Blankmeyer pulled him for Michel Otanez, who saved Kisena from more damage, forcing a double play to end the inning. The Cyclones runs came from a Cody Bohanek single driving in two in the fifth and a two-run homer from Blake Tiberi in the sixth. Despite the loss, the Cyclones had a few positives offensively. Mauricio continued his hot streak, after his long slump, going 3 for 4 including a triple, and the Mets #1 prospect went 2 for 4 with a double.

    June 18^th’s game against the Blue Rocks was easily one of the most exciting Cyclone’s games I have watched in a while as the A+ affiliate scraped out a 7-5 victory over Wilmington. The Mets' #15 prospect Jose Butto took the mound for the Cyclones. An interesting stat pertaining to Butto is his home vs. away splits. At home, opponents hit just .185 with a .538 OPS whereas on the road opponents are hitting .276 with an alarming .964 OPS. Unfortunately for the talented right-hander, who many project to be a solid middle relief arm (with two strong pitches being his changeup and fastball), this happened to be a road game. Butto gave up eight hits and five earned runs including three home runs. The scoring came first from the Cyclones as Luke Ritter hit a solo shot to right-center in the top of the second. Then, in the bottom of the fourth the Blue Rocks grabbed two runs on two solo shots by Yasel Anutna and Armond Upshaw. Antuna, the Nationals' #4 prospect, seems to finally be picking it up after a rough beginning to his season. In the next frame, Butto gave up his third solo shot of the game to Brady Lindsly as well as two more runs via an RBI single from Jake Alu and an RBI grounder, which was a force out to second base, from Israel Pineda after the Blue Rocks put together several singles. In the sixth, Mauricio, who had a rough game after having a couple solid ones, reached base via a missed catch error from the Blue Rock’s first baseman Omar Meregildo. Mauricio made it to third after a double from Brett Baty, who continues to impress, and then scored on a wild pitch making it 5-2 Blue Rocks. This score would stand till 2 outs in the top of the ninth where the Cyclones who have struggled all season rallied for five runs. The ninth started with a ground ball up the middle from the 19-year-old phenom Francisco Alvarez with a single up the middle. Then after a Bohanek strikeout, Ritter walk, a wild pitch moving up the runners, and a Joe Genord strikeout the Cyclones struck. Down to the Cyclone’s final strike, Juan Uriarte singled up the middle driving in Alvarez and Ritter making it 5-4 Blue Rocks. Antoine Duplantis then came through with a two-run homer forcing a pitching change, which did not matter, as the next batter Blake Tiberi hit a solo shot in the next AB. This made the score 7-5 where the game would finish. Also, a necessary shoutout to Allan Winans and Mitch Ragan who both gave up no runs in relief and have both had outstanding seasons out of the pen. This was a gritty and exciting win that was much needed for a struggling Cyclones team.

    After an exhilarating win, the Cyclones looked to continue the momentum on June 19^th. David Griffin made his first start for the Cyclones as he was signed from the Gary SouthShore RaliCats in the American Association where he posted a 4.31 ERA. The Cyclones had a plethora of offense in this game plating eight runs. However, Griffin and the bullpen struggled giving up nine runs, thus the final score 9-8 Blue Rocks. A high-scoring first inning commenced with Mauricio reaching on a missed catch error by the Blue Rock’s first baseman Jack Dunn which scored Duplantis and moved Tiberi up to second base who singled and walked respectively. Alvarez drove Tiberi in with a single making the score 2-0 Cyclones. The Blue Rocks struck back quickly and demonstratively in the bottom of the frame. Alu and Rhinesmith both had RBI singles and Pratt and Rhinesmith scored on a fielding error by Mauricio (who has totaled nine errors so far this season) making it 5-2 after one. In the bottom of the second, Pratt doubled to center driving in Connell. In the top of the third Alvarez returned the favor with an RBI double. The next inning, the Blue Rocks scored via a sac fly from Rhinesmith making it 7-3 Blue Rocks. Then in the fifth Luke Ritter hit a grand slam to tie up the game as he drove in the three prized position prospects Mauricio, Baty, and Alvarez who all walked. In the sixth, Rhinesmith continued his big day with an RBI double. The Cyclones tied it up in the eight with a base hit from Duplantis. However, Justin Connell walked it off in the ninth a single to center which scored Pratt. Cyclones reliever Andrew Edwards is having a strong 2021 campaign, but he picked up the loss, pitching the eighth and ninth, and giving up four hits and two walks.

    Coming off a tough loss the Cyclones' offense broke out on June 20^th as they defeated the Blue Rocks 13-1. Justin Lasko, the Mets' 30^th round pick in 2019, who threw six innings and gave up one run his last start did the same exact thing in this day cap. The scoring began with the Mets' #1 prospect going yard in the second. Then, Jake Alu drove in the only Blue Rock run in the third with a double. In the sixth, the Cyclones went back-to-back-to-back. Ritter continued his strong series with another home run and Joe Genord and Jose Mena joined the club going deep. The next inning Babe Ruth, also known as Luke Ritter, hit another home run in this game and it was his second grand slam in back-to-back games. He again drove in the Mets big three prospects as Mauricio singled and Baty and Alvarez walked which made the score 9-1 Cyclones. In the eight, Baty tripled and drove in Mauricio who singled. To close out the rampage, JT Struble grounded into a force out which drove in Genord, and Duplantis singled to drive Struble in. This was an offensive downpour by the Cyclones, and it was beautiful to see as they have struggled mightily this season. Some notables on offense were Ritter with his two homers and six RBIs, and Baty who went 2 for 5 and is up to a .320 average and .955 OPS on the season. 

    Coming off a franchise-record five home runs and a 13-1 defeat of the Blue Rocks, the Cyclones looked to continue this momentum on June 23 in game one of a series against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (the Phillies affiliate). Sadly, the Cyclones could not do so and fell 7-5 to the BlueClaws. Jaison Vilera was coming off a solid performance, only allowing two runs, in his last outing. However, Jaison struggled mightily in this start giving up 7 runs in only 2.2 innings before being pulled. The scoring began in the top of the second via a D.J. Steward homer. The next inning the Phillies' #6 prospect Casey Martin also went deep sending a three-run shot to left. A pair of RBI singles and a sac fly in the same inning, making the score 7-0 BlueClaws, warranted the end for Vilera, as he was pulled. The Cyclones tried to chip away at this lead in the fourth, plating all five of their runs in this inning. This began with an Alvarez double driving in Mauricio and Baty who both singled. Unfortunately, the #1 prospect exited the game after this double. It appeared the injury occurred behind the plate where he was hit with a foul tip to the mid-section. Joe Genord and Adrian Hernandez drove in the other three runs with a pair of singles making the score 7-5. This is where the score would stay for the rest of the game. Colby Morris, Michel Otanez, and Allan Winans all pitched great in relief combing for 6.1 scoreless innings, but the offense was not able to pick them up.