One Year ago today - Brooklyn wins 1-0 on one hit shutout, best of three series tied at one,

Brooklyn Cyclones 1 Hudson Valley Renegades 0 (box).

Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, and more Pitching.  Led by 2019 5^th round pick Nathan Jones, and 3^rd round pick Matthew Allan, four Brooklyn pitchers shut out the Rays’ Hudson Valley Renegades team Thursday night on one hit to tie the series at one game each and force a win or go home game Friday night in Brooklyn.

In just his eighth professional start, Nathan Jones threw three scoreless innings with no hits and a walk, working around two errors.  The only inning where he faced any sort of trouble was the third.  After an error by Wilmer Reyes on a tough play that required Wilmer to range up the middle only to have the ball go off his glove, a fly out and a walk, Nathan found himself with two on and one out.  He then recorded a ground out and a fly out to keep the game tied at the time 0-0.

This was a big bounce back game for Nathan Jones.  In his start last week against Aberdeen he did not make it out of the first going just 2/3^rd of an inning, 4 hits, 2 walks, 6 runs. 

It looked like Brooklyn might score in the first.  After two outs, Wilmer Reyes was hit by a pitch.  Luke Ritter then doubled but Wilmer was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay, Renegades center fielder K.V. Edwards, to shortstop Greg Jones, to catcher Luis Leon.

The top of the fourth saw Brooklyn bring in prized draft pick Matthew Allen who threw two perfect innings, 6 up, six down and reached 96 on the radar gun.

PC - Ed Delany

In the bottom of the fourth, Jed Lowrie hit the first pitch of the inning for a 373 foot home run into the right field bleachers.  Mind you, hitting a home run to right field at MCU park is not an easy feat as the ocean sits just on the other side of right field and the ball does not carry well that way.  This is a good sign for the Mets as they hope to get Jed back to the majors soon.      

Corey Gaconi, a 6’4” righthanded 22 year old from Southeastern Louisiana, was on next to pitch for Brooklyn.  He too was looking to redeem himself after a tough 4 run inning and a third last week against Aberdeen.  Cory went three innings struck out 5 with no walks.  Cory did allow the only hit in the game, a one out single in the seventh before retiring the next two batters.

Nelson Leon worked the ninth allowing a one out walk before inducing a double play to end the game.

The best of three series now wraps up Friday in Brooklyn.  Matt Cleveland is expected to pitch for Brooklyn.  With Brooklyn ace Garrison Bryant not having pitched since Sunday, I am thinking we may see him as well.  Especially, if Matt Cleveland struggles early in the game.