If Mets first round pick Ike Davis was brought to Brooklyn for only one reason, it was so he could be a difference maker on offense. Going 1-5 with an RBI on Sunday against Hudson Valley on Sunday however, the recently signed first basemen isn’t quite ready yet to be the impact player the team desperately needs.
The rest of his teammates didn’t help the cause much either though, amassing only two extra-base hits and committing two costly errors in a 6-4 loss.
“We scored four runs today,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo of his team that ended up with 12 hits on the night. “I know this team is going to score runs. Again, we were one hit away from winning the game. We finished the game strong too, so I’m proud of them for that.”
Jim Fuller made his first professional start for the Cyclones and despite giving up two hits to start the game, the lefty managed to keep the Renegades off the board in the first. Giving up another hit in the second, Fuller was saved after John Servidio made his fourth outfield assist of the season, nailing Michael Ross at the plate and keeping the game scoreless.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis got the Cyclones on the board with an RBI single in the second, scoring Mets fourth round pick Sean Ratliff, who singled earlier in his first professional at bat.
The lead wouldn’t last for long however, as the third inning was also an adventure for Fuller, who left the game with the base loaded in favor of reliever Wendy Rosa.
“He threw the ball well for his first start here in Brooklyn,” said Cyclones catcher Ralph Henriquez of Fuller. “He had good stuff. He was a lot better than it looked.”
The Cyclones reliever couldn’t keep Fuller’s shutout though, walking Ross and allowing a run to cross the plate to tie the game. That was all the offense Hudson Valley could muster however, as catcher John Mollicone grounded out to Brooklyn third baseman Zach Lutz to end the inning.
Brooklyn then got back on top in the third, as Davis scorched an opposite field double that scored Matt Bouchard. Things then began to fall apart for Renegades starter Chris Andujar, who ended up surrendering an RBI ground out from Zach Lutz, giving the Mets Single-A affiliate a 3-1 lead.
Both teams then made pitching changes in the sixth, as Manny Olivares came into the game for Brooklyn and Rob Della Grotta came out of the Hudson Valley bullpen and replaced Andujar. Both pitched scoreless frames in the sixth, but Olivares ended up coughing up the lead, giving up a bases loaded single to pinch-hitter Anthony Scelfo, which tied the score at 3-3.
Mike Lynn came into the game in eighth for Brooklyn and only lasted two hitters, getting Mark Thomas to ground out and walking Jason Appel. Lefty side-armer Roy Merritt made his Keyspan debut and instead of getting out of the inning on a routine ground ball that should have been converted into a double play, Cyclones shortstop Matt Bouchard missed second baseman Josh Satin and threw the ball into right field, allowing a run to score and gave Hudson Valley a 4-3 lead with only one out.
A Jason Corder sacrifice fly later in the eighth also padded the Renegades lead, giving them a two-run cushion with only two innings left to play.
“Roy gave me exactly what I wanted with the bases loaded,” said Bouchard. “I rushed it a bit though and I was a bit off balance. I was too quick with it. I really wanted to get the double play.”
Unlike earlier in the week, the Cyclones didn’t have any come from behind magic in them tonight, as Joshua Satow, who replaced Della Grotta in the seventh, kept the Baby Mets off the scoreboard in the eighth. Merritt continued pitching in the ninth and gave up a Mollicone RBI single, giving the Renegades a three-run lead with Brooklyn’s last licks on the way.
Coming in after Satow gave up a Henriquez single, Renegades closer Travis Risser proved to be no where near as potent as his team’s offense, but was saved by solid defense. Giving up a RBI single from Murphy that scored Henriquez, Risser got Zach Lutz to ground into a a game-ending double-play, putting the finishing touches on a 6-4 Renegades win.
“We had a lot of chances, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” said Bouchard, who had two hits on the night, to go along with two errors. “Our hits weren’t timely either, we put together a couple of good innings late. If we would have put them together earlier, things could have turned out different.”
Notes-
According to a source in the organization, the Mets other first round pick, Reese Havens, is expected to DH today in the second game of the series against Hudson Valley.
Daniel Murphy concluded his rehab assignment with the Clones last night, amassing seven hits and two RBI in just three games and is scheduled to rejoin the Double-A B-Mets today.
“He’s a professional hitter,” said Alfonzo. “He can hit.”
Alfonzo also announced that outfielder Brandon Kawal [stiff back] and Luis Alen [chin laceration] have been added to the Disabled List to make room for Havens. Alfonzo also expects a roster move to take place tomorrow to help sort out a team that is currently carrying six outfielders and three catchers.
Video-
Cyclones LF Sean Ratliff singles in his first pro AB
A 90-minute rain delay spoiled the pregame festivities on Super Hero day at Keyspan Park and just like the weather, the Brooklyn Cyclones offense couldn’t find a way to use their super powers in a 4-1 loss to the Aberdeen IronBirds.
“We couldn’t put anything together offensively,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “I had a meeting with my guys today and I told them they have to make adjustments and start hitting with runners on base. We’re taking too many fastballs with runners on base and are swinging at too many breaking balls. We’re hitting backwards right now. We had opportunities, but we struck out or hit fly balls or ground balls. We need to do a better job.”
Giving up three earned runs in 4.2 innings against Hudson Valley on June 23, Brooklyn starter Tim Stronach was looking to pitch into the sixth inning for the first time this season. Things didn’t start out the way he would have liked however, as the righty surrendered two runs on two hits in the first, giving the IronBirds an early 2-0 lead.
“I came out flat in the first,” said Stronach. “It wasn’t until after that I got mentally prepared and started to locate my pitches better.”
Despite calming down and keeping the game at 2-0 through the fifth, Stronach had barely any offensive support. Striking out six Clones in five innings of work, Aberdeen starter Chris Salberg was sharp from the get go. In his first three innings pitched, Salberg gave up only a Will Vogl bloop single, effectively keeping Mets Single-A affiliate off the scoreboard.
“They pitched well and we didn’t make adjustments,” said Vogl, who had three hits on the night. “They were hitting their spots well and using both sides of the plate.”
The Brooklyn offense did wake up a tad in the fifth though, as Vogl notched a two-out triple for his second hit of the night. The next hitter, Matt Bouchard, took Salberg to a full count and drew a walk. Following Bouchard was Daniel Murphy, in the second game of a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton, who scorched an RBI single and got the Clones within one.
After twirling four shutout innings, Stronach was replaced by in the sixth by Jeff Kaplan, who made his pro debut and responded by hurling a scoreless sixth. He wasn’t as effective in the seventh however, as another run crossed the plate, courtesy of a Paul Chmiel ground out, giving Aberdeen it’s two-run lead back.
With the score 3-1 in the eighth, Montero Cruz replaced Kaplan and gave up a lead off double off the bat of Lee Ellis. Cruz, like Kaplan, was unable to escape the power of the Aberdeen offense, as a Caleb Joseph RBI single gave the IronBirds a 4-1 lead.
Joe Esposito then came in to pitch the eighth for the IronBirds and gave up only a Zach Lutz single. Closer Fredy Deza came into the game in the ninth and kept Brooklyn’s bats off the board, despite getting in a bases loaded, two-out jam, sealing a 4-1 Aberdeen win.
“We had men in the right spot there,” said Alfonzo. “We were one double away from winning the game. I know we only had eight hits, but we battled.”
Now 6-6 through 12 games, the Cyclones have won two out the four series they’ve played and look to get more consistent. Mustering eight hits, the offense will definitely be a focal point when the Renegades come to Keyspan on Sunday for the start of a three-game series.
“I know these guys can hit,” said Alfonzo. “We just have to get a steady lineup together. Once that happens, I know these guys will produce.”
Notes:
Former big leaguer Tim Spooneybarger pitched for Aberdeen in sixth and seventh. The former Atlanta Brave and Florida Marlin hasn’t pitched in the Major Leagues since 2003 after undergoing Tommy John surgery Mets first round pick Ike Davis collected a single tonight, putting his batting average at .250 through three games.
The team also expects fourth round pick Sean Ratliff to join the team tomorrow and barring any problems, Alfonzo sees him as the team’s new starting left fielder.
“He’s here, he’s signed and he’s ready to go,” said Alfonzo. “Tomorrow he’s going to take BP and if he’s ready to go, he’s going to play. I don’t know where he’s going to hit, but I’ll worry about that tomorrow.”
Before the game, the Cyclones participated in the Take Your Base Walk in Coney Island and helped raise over $20,000 for the American Cancer Society.
After losing his spot in the starting lineup early this season, Cyclones outfielder Will Vogl was trying desperately to rediscover his game.
Talking to reporters before the game, it was obvious; his demeanor looked completely different from the confident and gritty outfielder that hit .300 for most of the season in 2007.
Trying to stay positive, Vogl assured the media he was ready to help the team anyway he could.
“I’ll do whatever it is they want me to do,” he said before the game. “Whether it’s pinch running, hitting or subbing on defense, it doesn’t matter.”
Despite the words of willingness, it remained to be seen just how quickly Vogl could retain the passion that made him a fan favorite last season.
A few hours later, the St. Johns product proved that he indeed has some fire left, hitting a game-winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Baby Mets a 4-3 come from behind win.
“It felt great,” Vogl said. “Anytime you get into a game, you want to make sure you help the team. I’m happy I did. They put the bat in my hand and let me swing and it worked out. I was nervous, I didn’t want to mess up, but I made sure I stayed back and found a pitch to hit.”
While it was the offense that again got them the victory, it was their pitching the kept them in the game throughout. Coming into the game with an 0.87 ERA, Pedro P. Martinez made his third start of the season for the Clones. Far from perfect early on, Martinez gave up three hits, a walk and two runs in the first, putting his team down early. The inning could have been much worse for Brooklyn however, as center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis saved a run throwing out Aberdeen’s Chad Durakis, who tried to score on a fly ball hit to shallow center field with one out.
“Martinez was too quick the first two innings,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “He was trying to throw too hard and it hurt him.”
The 22-year-old righty wasn’t able to keep the Baltimore Single-A affiliate off the scoreboard in the second either, giving up another run and stretching Aberdeen’s lead to 3-0. While Martinez was struggling, IronBird’s starter Cole McCurry kept the Clones bats quiet through the game’s first four innings, as the Mets Single-A affiliate couldn’t get a runner past second base.
Martinez did manage to get better as the game progressed though, throwing four scoreless innings before he left the game. The Cyclones bats started to come alive as the game progressed as well, as a Matt Bouchard RBI single in the fifth scored Josh Satin to break McCurry’s shutout.
“I was throwing a lot of fastballs in the beginning,” said Martinez through an interpreter. “After the third, I got comfortable and started using my sinker more. They told me I needed to slow down and to not be so aggressive. Once I did, I was successful.”
The Cyclones offense, while showing signs of life earlier in the game, didn’t get going until McCurry left the game in the sixth with one out and runners on first and second and lefty Rick Zagone on the mound. The southpaw wasn’t nearly as solid as his predecessor however, as the first hitter he faced, Nieuwenhuis, smoked a line drive double into the gap in left center, scoring Zach Lutz and John Servidio, tying the game at three runs apiece.
With the score tied in the seventh, Mike Lynn came out of the Brooklyn bullpen and made his professional debut. Walking the first two hitters he faced, Lynn was quickly yanked by Alfonzo in favor of lefty Jimmy Johnson. One of Alfonzo’s early-season favorites out of the pen, the La Miranda California-native kept the score at 3-3 going into the bottom of the ninth.
“He’s our lucky charm,” Alfonzo said. “We haven’t lost a game he’s pitched in all season.”
Getting lead-off singles off Aberdeen reliever Brandon Cooney from Bouchard and Murphy in the ninth, the Mets Single-A affiliate needed only a hit or sacrifice fly to come out victorious.
Vogl, who replaced Eric Campbell in the seventh inning, made sure that was exactly what the team got, slamming an RBI hit into the gap in right-center field and giving the Clones a 4-3 come from behind win.
“Even though he’s not starting right now, he’s still one of my favorite players,” said Alfonzo of Vogl. “He works so hard out there. I’m happy for him.”
Winning the first two games of the series, the Clones now find themselves one game over .500 and only a half-game behind the McNamara Division leading Hudson Valley Renegades. While Alfonzo admitted it was too early to think about standings, he did admit the team is beginning to take shape.
“I don’t want to say we can go all the way,” he said. “But I think it’s a possibility, we have a really good team here.”
Notes-
Mets right fielder Ryan Church couldn’t replicate his 3 for 3 night from the night before, going 0-3 with two strikeouts, but that didn’t mean the Cyclones didn’t appreciate his efforts. He is expected to rejoin the Mets tomorrow.
“He’s such a class act,” said Alfonzo. “He spent a lot of time with these kids and did a great job with them. He played as hard here as he would have if he was playing with the big club. I was very impressed.”
Zach Lutz [two hits] recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season. So far this season, Lutz has played in seven of the team’s 11 games after missing four with a sprained ankle he suffered in Aberdeen.
2006 Cyclone Daniel Murphy also recorded three hits in his first game of a rehab assignment with the Double-A, B-Mets. He’s expected to be with the team for at least two more days.
“He’s a hitting machine,” said Alfonzo. “He can hit the ball anywhere.”
Video-
Jimmy Johnson getting Aberdeen DH Jedidiah Stephen to ground out to end the seventh.
It may have been just a freak coincidence that it was Pirate Night at Keyspan Park, but the Brooklyn Cyclones weren’t taking chances. Not only did they pillage the Aberdeen IronBirds pitching staff, amassing 15 hits, they also plundered their offense, limiting the Baltimore Single-A affiliate to only three hits in a 4-2 win.
The Cyclones cause was also aided by two new swashbucklers on board for last night’s game. Mets right fielder Ryan Church was in the lineup on a rehab assignment with the Mets and Ike Davis, the team’s first pick in this year’s draft, made his pro debut. Combining for four hits and two runs, the duo provided a huge lift to an offense in desperate need of one.
“I don’t think we’ve had this many hits in our last 10 games combined,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo, jokingly. “I’m really excited about our offense now. Church got our offense rolling and because of that, we were able to manufacture some runs.”
While Church was perhaps the biggest offensive star of the night, it was Josh Satin who got the Mets Single-A affiliate on the board in the second with an RBI single, scoring Davis, who doubled off the left field wall in his first professional at bat. Continuing to put runs on the board in the third, Church, who singled in his first at bat off Aberdeen starter Aaron Odom, doubled home John Servidio, who led off the inning with a two bagger of his own, stretching the lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, an Eric Campbell single scored Church, as the Baby Mets had a three-run lead and showed signs of pulling away early.
“It was a great feeling,” said Davis about his first professional hit. “It could have went over the wall though.”
Mets Supplemental pick Brad Holt made his first start in Brooklyn this season, after losing his first pro start against the very same IronBirds on June 21. Throwing no-hit ball through the game’s first five innings, Holt looked like a different pitcher from the one who allowed two runs in 2.1 innings in his last start.
“I was able to locate,” said Holt, who also had six strikeouts. “I mixed the changeup in and my breaking ball started off strong. I was excited because this was my first home start. I had a lot of adrenaline going. After the first inning, I was pretty sure it was going to be a good night.”
The Cyclones offense, like their starting pitcher, looked rejuvenated as well. After a Church single, his third hit of the night, the Clones continued to bat around, as Campbell added another RBI single, giving Brooklyn a four-run cushion.
Holt came out of the game in the sixth without giving up a hit, but reliever Brandon Moore wasn’t nearly as solid. After giving up a solo homer to the first hitter he faced, Eric Perlozzo, Moore couldn’t retire the next three hitters, leaving the game with the bases loaded.
Montero Cruz came out of the Brooklyn bullpen to try and clean up Moore’s mess, but was also ineffective, hitting Tyler Kolodny and sending another run home. However, Cruz suddenly found his control after the bean ball and struck out the next hitter he faced. Matias Carrillo then replaced Cruz and struck out the next two Aberdeen hitters he danced with, keeping the score at 4-2.
Carrillo kept the score deadlocked into the eighth, before being replaced by Yury Santana with two outs and runners on first and second. Striking out the first hitter he faced, Santana blanked the IronBirds in the ninth, earning his league-leading fourth save and giving the Clones their fifth win of the season.
Now back at .500 after being swept on the road by Hudson Valley earlier in the week, the Clones look to continue their winning ways and keep the hot bats rolling.
“I feel really good about this team,” Alfonzo. “I’ve been waiting for something like this.”
Notes:
After a conversation with Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, Church, who left the game after his third at bat in the fifth, expects to be in the lineup tomorrow against the IronBirds.
After the game, Alfonzo however didn’t know what his status was.
“Tomorrow, Omar [Minaya] or Tony [Bernazard] are going to call me,” he said. “And let me know if he’s going to stay here or go back to the big club. Right now, I don’t know.”
Alfonzo also said that he expects the Mets other first round pick, Reese Havens, back sometime next week.
“With these guys together, we’ll have a different look,” he said, in regards to having Zach Lutz [who was seen icing his injured right ankle and noticeably limping in the clubhouse after the game], Davis and Havens in the lineup at the same time. “I can’t wait to have all of them together.”
Update @ 2 p.m.
According to the team’s official site, Church will be in the lineup again tonight.
Drafted in the 29th round of the 2007 draft, Cyclones southpaw Roy Merritt may be in the big leagues much quicker than most people think. Going 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 17 games with Kingsport last season, Merritt has continued to thrive in the organization, having yet to give up a run in four outings in 08. Chatting with DemBrooklynBums.com on June 23 before Brooklyn took on the Hudson Valley Renegades, Merritt discusses his game and philosophy on the field, as well as how he’s gettng along with his new teammates.
DemBrooklynBums.com: You’ve appeared in three games so far this season, but you haven’t pitched in Keyspan Park yet. Are you ready?
Roy Merritt: Yes, I am ready to go. I’m prepared and just waiting for the team to call upon me.
DBB: Since no one at Keyspan has seen you pitch yet, would you be so kind to tell us a little about your game?
Merritt:I’m more of a lefty specialist that throws a fastball, slider and a changeup. My fastball clocks in at about 83-89 miles per hour. I’ll come into a game usually when there are two lefties in a row in the order or a tough lefty they really need to get out. That’s pretty much what my job is.
DBB: Have you ever been to New York before? How is it different from where you grew up?
Merritt: Yes, this is the first time I’ve been here. I’m from Houston, so it’s very similar and very different at the same time, if that makes sense. Everything here is pushed together; I’m used to driving everywhere and when you drive here, it’s really congested. I still like the experience here though.
DBB: If you could compare yourself to someone at the major league level who would it be and why?
Merritt: That’s a tough question and one that I don’t really have an answer for. The guy I grew up watching was Ken Griffey Jr. I always played outfield and then pitched. I was drafted by the Cardinals as an outfielder out of High School, but then I decided to go to College.
DBB: So knowing that, are you happy in the blue and orange of the Mets organization or would you have liked it more to play in St. Louis?
Merritt: To be honest, I’m just happy to be playing. This is what I’ve always wanted to do.
DBB: How is everyone getting along on the team? What do you think of your teammates?
Merritt: I’ve been playing with most of these guys in Extended Spring Training and we joke around a lot. We keep it fun. This is a professional team, but we know it’s a game and we keep it light.
DBB: How do you think you’ll feel wen you finally get a chance to pitch at Keyspan?
Merritt: I’m just going to take things as they go. I have no reason to be really nervous. Of course I’m going to have some butterflies, every one would in that situation, but it’s nothing that’s going to stop me from giving me all out there. I’m really looking forward to it.
Notes-
Mets first round pick Ike Davis took batting practice with the Mets at Shea yesterday and should be in the lineup today against the Aberdeen Iron Birds.
MLB.com wrote a nice piece on him yesterday that is definitely worth checking out.
If Mets first round pick Ike Davis was brought to Brooklyn for only one reason, it was so he could be a difference maker on offense. Going 1-5 with an RBI on Sunday against Hudson Valley on Sunday however, the recently signed first basemen isn’t quite ready yet to be the impact player the team desperately needs.
Brooklyn then got back on top in the third, as Davis scorched an opposite field double that scored Matt Bouchard. Things then began to fall apart for Renegades starter Chris Andujar, who ended up surrendering an RBI ground out from Zach Lutz, giving the Mets Single-A affiliate a 3-1 lead.
Notes-
A 90-minute rain delay spoiled the pregame festivities on Super Hero day at Keyspan Park and just like the weather, the Brooklyn Cyclones offense couldn’t find a way to use their super powers in a 4-1 loss to the Aberdeen IronBirds.
After twirling four shutout innings, Stronach was replaced by in the sixth by Jeff Kaplan, who made his pro debut and responded by hurling a scoreless sixth. He wasn’t as effective in the seventh however, as another run crossed the plate, courtesy of a Paul Chmiel ground out, giving Aberdeen it’s two-run lead back.
Mets first round pick Ike Davis collected a single tonight, putting his batting average at .250 through three games.
After losing his spot in the starting lineup early this season, Cyclones outfielder Will Vogl was trying desperately to rediscover his game.
“I was throwing a lot of fastballs in the beginning,” said Martinez through an interpreter. “After the third, I got comfortable and started using my sinker more. They told me I needed to slow down and to not be so aggressive. Once I did, I was successful.”
Mets right fielder Ryan Church couldn’t replicate his 3 for 3 night from the night before, going 0-3 with two strikeouts, but that didn’t mean the Cyclones didn’t appreciate his efforts. He is expected to rejoin the Mets tomorrow.
It may have been just a freak coincidence that it was Pirate Night at Keyspan Park, but the Brooklyn Cyclones weren’t taking chances. Not only did they pillage the Aberdeen IronBirds pitching staff, amassing 15 hits, they also plundered their offense, limiting the Baltimore Single-A affiliate to only three hits in a 4-2 win.
Mets Supplemental pick Brad Holt made his first start in Brooklyn this season, after losing his first pro start against the very same IronBirds on June 21. Throwing no-hit ball through the game’s first five innings, Holt looked like a different pitcher from the one who allowed two runs in 2.1 innings in his last start.
Carrillo kept the score deadlocked into the eighth, before being replaced by Yury Santana with two outs and runners on first and second. Striking out the first hitter he faced, Santana blanked the IronBirds in the ninth, earning his league-leading fourth save and giving the Clones their fifth win of the season.
Alfonzo also said that he expects the Mets other first round pick, Reese Havens, back sometime next week.
Drafted in the 29th round of the 2007 draft, Cyclones southpaw Roy Merritt may be in the big leagues much quicker than most people think. Going 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 17 games with Kingsport last season, Merritt has continued to thrive in the organization, having yet to give up a run in four outings in 08. Chatting with DemBrooklynBums.com on June 23 before Brooklyn took on the Hudson Valley Renegades, Merritt discusses his game and philosophy on the field, as well as how he’s gettng along with his new teammates.