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	<title>Dem Brooklyn Bums :: A Brooklyn Cyclones Blog by Patrick Hickey, Jr. &#187; Scoreless Innings</title>
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	<description>Cyclones Coverage with a twist from Beat Reporter Patrick Hickey Jr.</description>
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		<title>Dem Brooklyn Bums :: A Brooklyn Cyclones Blog by Patrick Hickey, Jr.</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com</link>
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	<itunes:summary>Cyclones Coverage with a twist from Beat Reporter Patrick Hickey Jr.</itunes:summary>
	<itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
	<itunes:category text="Society &#38; Culture" />
	<itunes:author>Patrick Hickey Jr.</itunes:author>
	<itunes:owner>
		<itunes:name>Patrick Hickey Jr.</itunes:name>
		<itunes:email>patrickhickeyjr@yahoo.com</itunes:email>
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		<item>
		<title>Lynn Ready to Make Waves</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2009/07/05/lynn-ready-to-make-waves/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2009/07/05/lynn-ready-to-make-waves/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:36:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2009 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arm Injury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bone Spurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Elbow]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Hasn]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Louisville Native]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Matter Of Fact]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nypl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Offseason]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rookie Campaign]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scar Tissues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scoreless Innings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seventh Inning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Six Months]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Swing Of Things]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Waves]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Winning A Championship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=697</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spending the majority of last season on the shelf following suffering an arm injury, Clones&#8217; reliever Mike Lynn is ready to get back into the swing of things. As a matter of fact, he&#8217;s pretty antsy. Working hard all offseason, Lynn has put his hard luck rookie campaign behind him and is focused on excelling [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Spending the majority of last season on the shelf following suffering an arm injury, Clones&#8217; reliever Mike Lynn is ready to get back into the swing of things.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, he&#8217;s pretty antsy.</p>
<p>Working hard all offseason, Lynn has put his hard luck rookie campaign behind him and is focused on excelling in &#8217;09.</p>
<p>“I had surgery in September,” he said. “Some bone spurs and scar tissues in my elbow. It wasn&#8217;t a serious surgery, but I did need about six months to rehab it. It feels good to finally be healthy.”</p>
<p>Being used in a seventh inning relief role so far this season, the Louisville-native is happy to have an opportunity to prove himself and has responded marvelously, hurling three scoreless innings in two appearances this season.</p>
<p>With an added confidence and comfort in &#8217;09, Lynn has set some lofty goals for the team- a NYPL championshp.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;m healthy and excited to be back here,” Lynn said. “Brooklyn hasn&#8217;t won a championship in a while and it&#8217;s more important here than anywhere else in the minors. Playing in front of these fans at home, we want to do our best for them. Winning a championship is something we are shooting for.”</p>
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		<title>Moore Rocks Renegades in 7-3 Win</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2009/06/23/moore-rocks-renegades-in-7-3-win/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2009/06/23/moore-rocks-renegades-in-7-3-win/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:28:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2009 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alex Gregory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Big Strides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bouchard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Moore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centeno]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Extended Spring Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glenn Gibson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hudson Valley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jerseys]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Ralph Henriquez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scoreless Innings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Servidio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seven Runs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spring Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wrenn]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=685</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Baby Mets may have had stars on their jerseys for Barack Obama night on Tuesday, but Brandon Moore didn&#8217;t need any. He was a star all by himself. On his game all night, the second-year Clone gave up just four hits in seven scoreless innings of work, leading “Baracklyn” to a 7-3 win over [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Baby Mets may have had stars on their jerseys for Barack Obama night on Tuesday, but Brandon Moore didn&#8217;t need any.</p>
<p>He was a star all by himself.</p>
<p>On his game all night, the second-year Clone gave up just four hits in seven scoreless innings of work, leading “Baracklyn” to a 7-3 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;ve been in a groove since extended spring training,” said Moore. “It just carried on to today. I felt great out there.”</p>
<p>The Cyclones coaching staff was pleased with his performance as well.</p>
<p>“He&#8217;s made big strides from last season in Kingsport,” said Clones skipper Pedro Lopez. “It&#8217;s unbelievable.”</p>
<p>The Renegades pitching staff was not solid however, as Glenn Gibson, Jordi Amargos and Jeffrey Cinadr gave up seven runs on seven hits and an error, courtesy of RBI hits by John Servidio, Matt Bouchard, Ralph Henriquez, Alex Gregory and Juan Centeno.</p>
<p>Wes Wrenn came into the game for Baracklyn in the eighth and gave up three runs the rest of the way, but kept it together to get the final out and ensure a 7-3 Clones win.</p>
<p>“Tonight was an outstanding game,” said Lopez. “I just told the guys that we have a good thing going here.”</p>
<p><strong>Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.</strong></p>
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		<title>Former Cyclones Getting an Opportunity in Spring Training</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2009/03/13/former-cyclones-getting-an-opportunity-in-spring-training/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2009/03/13/former-cyclones-getting-an-opportunity-in-spring-training/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:42:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Offseason 2008]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[28 Years]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antonini]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Cyclone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grapefruit League]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Lutz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York Mets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nick Evans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Notables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parnell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Plate Appearances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Remarkable Poise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scoreless Innings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sean Ratliff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spring Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World Baseball]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Due to the New York Mets having a plethora of players in the World Baseball Classic, several former Brooklyn Cyclones have an opportunity to show the team&#8217;s brass what they&#8217;re made of. While Dan Murphy and Nick Evans are currently hitting over .300 and positioned atop the teams leader board in hitting this spring, several [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Due to the New York Mets having a plethora of players in the World Baseball Classic, several former Brooklyn Cyclones have an opportunity to show the team&#8217;s brass what they&#8217;re made of.</p>
<p>While Dan Murphy and Nick Evans are currently hitting over .300 and positioned atop the teams leader board in hitting this spring, several other former baby bums have been swinging well as well.</p>
<p>Even four Cyclones from last year got a call, as Sean Ratliff, Zach Lutz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Ike Davis have garnered plate appearances, with mixed success. Lutz and Nieuwenhuis each have a double a piece in three combined at bats, while Ratliff and Davis have gone hitless in four at bats.</p>
<p>It should be very interesting to see what happens with Lutz, who despite showing remarkable poise  at the plate in his minor league plate appearances, has had tremendous problems staying healthy over the past two seasons. A good and injury-free showing in the Grapefruit League could help get him back on track.</p>
<p>The same thing goes for former Cyclone Angel Pagan, who looks ready to rock again after spending most of last season on the shelf after a fast start and is hitting .467 in 15 at-bats.</p>
<p>On the pitching side of things, Dillon Gee has looked decent in three appearances, but doesn&#8217;t seem ready for the show as of yet. Some more seasoning in Double-A with a stop in Triple-A before his big league debut should do the trick for him. Carlos Muniz also seems like another pitcher that could use a bit more seasoning, but at 28 years old, you wonder if he&#8217;ll ever be able to reproduce the stellar numbers he put up in Brooklyn, in Queens.</p>
<p>2005 Cyclone Bobby Parnell looks a bit more polished than he did in his small cup of coffee with the team last season and could be someone to keep an eye out for as well.</p>
<p>Other notables include Mike Antonini and Roy Merritt, who have also seen time in Spring Training with much different results. Antonini has thrown two scoreless innings this Spring, while Merritt, who is still developing his secondary pitches to compliment an excellent slider and a average fastball, is still  finding out what he needs to do in order to be successful. In just a third of an inning of work, the lefty-side-armer has given up three runs and two hits.</p>
<p><em><strong>Photo by Ron Hatcher</strong></em></p>
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		<title>Oops! Ratliff and Holt do it Again in 3-1 Win, Flores in Brooklyn Tonight!</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/28/oops-ratliff-and-holt-do-it-again-in-3-1-win/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/28/oops-ratliff-and-holt-do-it-again-in-3-1-win/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breaking News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn Cyclones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullpen]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Game Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holt]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=397</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sweeping a three-game series with the Valley Cats earlier this week, the Brooklyn Cyclones came into Wednesday night&#8217;s game with the Oneonta Tigers reinvigorated and ready to keep their playoff hopes alive. Getting another quality outing from staff ace Brad Holt and clutch hitting from Sean Ratliff, the Baby Bums looked recharged indeed and scratched [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/holt8271.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="281" height="271" align="right" /> Sweeping a three-game series with the Valley Cats earlier this week, the Brooklyn Cyclones came into Wednesday night&#8217;s game with the Oneonta Tigers reinvigorated and ready to keep their playoff hopes alive.</p>
<p>Getting another quality outing from staff ace Brad Holt and clutch hitting from Sean Ratliff, the Baby Bums looked recharged indeed and scratched out a hard-fought 3-1 win.</p>
<p>“The way we played tonight, I feel like this team is relaxed and ready,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “They know what they have to do now and I believe in them.”</p>
<p>Things didn&#8217;t start Brooklyn&#8217;s way however, as after hurling four scoreless innings, Holt gave up two hits and threw a wild pitch in the fifth that allowed an Oneonta run to score and gave the Tigers a one-run lead.</p>
<p>“I started off well,” said Holt, who threw 90 pitches on the night. “My changeup was good all night, except for the one that spiked past the catcher and gave them the lead. Other than that, I think I was alright.”</p>
<p>The Clones wasted no time getting back into the game however, as a Ratliff a solo bomb off Oneonta hurler Trevor Feeney in the bottom of the fifth tied the score at 1-1.</p>
<p>Lefty reliever Roy Merritt came out of the Brooklyn bullpen in the sixth, replacing Holt and kept the score deadlocked at 1-1 through the eighth. The Mets Single-A affiliate then broke the game wide open the following half inning, getting a bases-loaded single from Ratliff that scored Ike Davis and Jordan Abruzzo and put the Clones ahead 3-1.</p>
<p>“I got a changeup I was able to hit over the second baseman&#8217;s head and get us the lead,” said Ratliff, who has four homers in his past 10 games. “I&#8217;ve been feeling great out there lately and it feels good to help the team in a clutch situation like that.”</p>
<p>After getting their first lead of the night in the eighth, Jimmy Johnson was summoned out of the bullpen and wasted no time, retiring the side in order, earning the first save of his professional career and securing a 3-1 Brooklyn win.</p>
<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/holt827.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="318" height="350" align="left" />Winning their fourth game in as many days, the Baby Bums know that with only 10 games left to go, the winning ways must continue for their playoff dreams to come true.</p>
<p>“We&#8217;re rolling right now,” said Ratliff, who also made a pair of diving grabs in keep the game tied. “We really want to keep this going.”</p>
<p><em>Notes-</em></p>
<p>Clones starter Chris Schwinden, who was forced to leave his last start after being hit by a ball on his upper thigh in Tri-City, told reporters today that he&#8217;s fine and should be ready to pitch when his turn in the rotation comes up.</p>
<p>“I&#8217;m a little purple,” he said of his thigh. “But I&#8217;ll be okay. I was pretty lucky”</p>
<p><em>Update 5:15 P.M.-</em></p>
<p>Mets 17-year-old prospect <a href="http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Wilmer%20Flores&amp;pos=SS&amp;sid=milb&amp;t=p_pbp&amp;pid=527038" >Wilmer Flores</a> has been sent to Brooklyn and will be hitting seventh tonight against the Oneonta Tigers. Hitting .310 with 48 RBI with Kingsport this season, Flores is one of the fast-rising prospects in the organization and should be able to do more than just fill in for first round pick Reese Havens.<br />
<em><strong><br />
Photos by Ron Hatcher.</strong></em></p>
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		<title>Holt&#8217;s Gem Not Enough in 2-1 Loss</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/23/holts-gem-not-enough-in-2-1-loss/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/23/holts-gem-not-enough-in-2-1-loss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=365</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s not too often you get to see a pitcher&#8217;s duel in today&#8217;s game and it&#8217;s even rarer to see two in as many days. That, however, is exactly what the Brooklyn Cyclones and Lowell treated the 7,341 fans in attendance at Keyspan Park to on Friday, but unlike the night before, it was the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/Holt.jpg" alt="" width="307" height="401" /> It&#8217;s not too often you get to see a pitcher&#8217;s duel in today&#8217;s game and it&#8217;s even rarer to see two in as many days.</p>
<p>That, however, is exactly what the Brooklyn Cyclones and Lowell treated the 7,341 fans in attendance at Keyspan Park to on Friday, but unlike the night before, it was the Spinners who were on the winning end, edging out the Baby Bums 2-1 in a game that produced only six hits between both clubs.</p>
<p>“Tonight was tough,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “You have to tip your cap to the way they pitched tonight.”</p>
<p>After Scott Shaw and the Brooklyn bullpen limited Lowell to only one-hit on Thursday, Mets first round pick Brad Holt was more than solid against the Boston Red Sox Single-A affiliate as well, throwing two scoreless innings to start the game. Holt [4-3, 1.75 ERA] ran into trouble in the third though, giving up a pair of hits, including an RBI double by Ronald Bermudez that put the Spinners ahead by one.</p>
<p>Those two hits were all Holt, who had 10 strikeouts on the night, gave up, but it wasn&#8217;t enough for to come out with a victory.</p>
<p>“A lot of the time, they weren&#8217;t even swinging,” said Holt. “They were just watching.”</p>
<p>As good as Holt was, Spinners starter Kyle Weiland was that much better, limiting the Mets Single-A affiliate to only one hit in five innings of work.</p>
<p>Righty reliever Charle Rosario replaced Weiland in the sixth, but Brooklyn was still unable to muster any offense in the inning. The Clones did catch a break however when Mitchell Herold came into the game in the seventh for Lowell with a runner on third with two outs. The first hitter he faced, Jordan Abruzzo, hit a routine ground ball to short, which should have ended the inning, but first baseman  Ricardo Burgos couldn&#8217;t stretch out far enough to grab the throw, allowing Kirk Nieuwenhuis to score and tie the game at 1-1.</p>
<p>“It felt good to get that run in the eighth,” said Nieuwenhuis. “But it just didn&#8217;t happen for us tonight. Their pitchers were keeping us off balance all night.”</p>
<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/Yury.jpg" alt="" width="127" height="246" /> Clones closer Yury Santana replaced Holt in the eighth and kept the game at 1-1 until he gave up a monstrous solo home run off the top of the Keyspan Park scoreboard courtesy of Luis Sumoza in the ninth, giving the Spinners their one-run lead back at 2-1.</p>
<p>Seth Garrison then closed the game out for Lowell and retired all three hitters he faced, putting the finishing touches on a 2-1 Cyclones loss.</p>
<p>“If you don&#8217;t hit, it&#8217;s hard to win,” said Alfonzo. “Tonight was the first time in a long time that we only had two hits. We have to go out tomorrow and beat these guys.”</p>
<p>Notes-</p>
<p>Ike Davis continues to struggle this season and has hit .207 in his last ten games.</p>
<p>There is still no timetable on the return of Reese Havens or Matt Smith, who are suffering from groin and calf injuries respectively.</p>
<p>Havens is however expected to run the bases in practice tomorrow and will be evaluated again.</p>
<p><em>Video-</em></p>
<p>Brad Holt strikeout.</p>
<p>[youtube FLPcOuEv0ac]</p>
<p><em><strong>Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.</strong></em></p>
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		<title>Ratliff&#8217;s Homers and Luck Give Cyclones a Much Needed Win</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/18/ratliffs-homers-and-luck-give-cyclones-a-much-needed-win/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/18/ratliffs-homers-and-luck-give-cyclones-a-much-needed-win/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:01:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn Cyclones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Costly Errors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Curve Ball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dinger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Five Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fourth Win]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jose Jimenez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nypl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prime Position]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sacrifice Fly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Santana]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Sean Ratliff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sense Of Purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shuck]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solo Homer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Star Game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tri City Valley Cats]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=322</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Five games out of first place with only 18 left to play this season before Sunday&#8217;s game with the Tri-City Valley Cats, the Brooklyn Cyclones needed a clutch performance to keep their post season chances from slipping away. Powered by a two dinger night from Sean Ratliff and three costly errors by their opponents, the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/P1010278.jpg" alt="" width="309" height="257" /> Five games out of first place with only 18 left to play this season before Sunday&#8217;s game with the Tri-City Valley Cats, the Brooklyn Cyclones needed a  clutch performance to keep their post season chances from slipping away.</p>
<p>Powered by a two dinger night from Sean Ratliff and three costly errors by their opponents, the Baby Bums kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-5 win over the Valley Cats and go into this week&#8217;s All-Star game with a renewed sense of purpose.</p>
<p>“They are playing better now,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “I hope we continue to play the way we have been. It&#8217;s not over yet. Anything can happen.”</p>
<p>Things didn&#8217;t start Brooklyn&#8217;s way however, as the Valley Cats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first after a Jason Castro two-run homer off Brooklyn starter and NYPL All-Star Chris Schwinden. The Mets Single-A affiliate stormed right back in the bottom half of the inning however, getting four hits and a RBI single and sacrifice fly from Eric Campbell and Jose Jimenez, tying the score at 2-2.</p>
<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_9049.jpg" alt="" /> With the score still tied in the bottom of the fourth, Brooklyn got the lead on a Ratliff solo homer and kept it behind stellar pitching from Schwinden. Hurling four scoreless innings after the rocky first, the 22nd round pick looked to be in prime position to earn his fourth win of the season.</p>
<p>Things abruptly fell apart for the 21-year-old in the seventh though, as an error by JR Voyles allowed a run to score to tie the game and a RBI double by Ronald Ramirez put the Valley Cats ahead 4-3.</p>
<p>“I was attacking hitters pretty well,” said Schwinden. “But I was throwing my curve ball too much to some hitters and they capitalized. You can only get away with things for so long.”</p>
<p>With two outs in the seventh, Schwinden was replaced by Yury Santana, who gave up a RBI single from JT Shuck that gave Tri-City a two-run lead with only two and a half innings left to play.</p>
<p>The Mets Single-A affiliate came right back in the game in the bottom half of the seventh again after a solo homer from Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Santana kept Tri-City scoreless in the eighth and Roy Merritt pitched a scoreless ninth, giving the offense every opportunity to get back in the game and keep their playoff hopes alive.</p>
<p>Brooklyn did just that in the ninth, as Ratliff homered again, tying the game at 5-5.</p>
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/P1010313.jpg" alt="" width="233" height="286" />“I got some good wood tonight,” said Ratliff. “It feels real good to start hitting balls hard now. Hopefully, it continues.”</p>
<p>After Merritt hurled another scoreless frame in the tenth, the Cyclones offense got cooking again, as Seth Williams lead off the inning with a single, while Jordan Abruzzo reached on an error and advanced to second to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. After a Jimenez strike out, Ike Davis was intentionally walked, loading the bases for Juan Legares.</p>
<p>What looked like an innocent double-play opportunity, after Legares grounded right to Tri-City pitcher Ashton Mowdy, turned into a disaster for Tri-City when Valley Cats backstop  Castro threw the possibly inning-ending out into right field, allowing Abruzzo to score, giving Brooklyn a 6-5 win</p>
<p>Still five games out of first place after the victory, the Clones feel confident going into the All-Star break and feel they still have a shot at nabbing a post season birth.</p>
<p>“It was a huge win tonight,” said Ratliff. “It&#8217;s good to gain ground and to go out on a positive note before we come back to work after the All-Star break.”</p>
<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_8960.jpg" alt="" width="148" height="206" /> <em>Notes-</em></p>
<p>Brooklyn Dodger Carl Erskine was honored before the game and played the National Anthem on his harmonica.</p>
<p>Reese Havens groin pull will apparently keep him out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, as Alfonzo had no time table for his return.</p>
<p>“We&#8217;re trying to be careful with him,” he said. “We don&#8217;t want him to get hurt again.”<br />
<em><strong><br />
<img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/dbbavatarsmall.jpg" alt="" width="106" height="106" /> New Podcast!</strong></em></p>
<p>Interview with Sean Ratliff after the game. Like always, you <a rel="nofollow" href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=284456470" >download it here on I-Tunes</a> or stream it on the web <a href="http://media.switchpod.com//users/dembrooklynbums/dembrooklynbumspodcast820.mp3" >here</a>. Enjoy!<br />
<em><strong><br />
Pics by Jim Dolan and Ron Hatcher.</strong></em></p>
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		<title>Clones Salvage Twin-Bill Thanks to Pedro P and Bats</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/17/clones-salvage-twin-bill-thanks-to-pedro-p-and-bats/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/17/clones-salvage-twin-bill-thanks-to-pedro-p-and-bats/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn Cyclones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullpen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Double Header]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Double Play]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Five Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jose Jimenez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lagares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mcnamara]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mejia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scoreless Innings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Second Game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Skipper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staten Island Yankees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tri City Valley Cats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Winning 6]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yanks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=318</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Five and a half games behind the first place Staten Island Yankees before a double header with the Tri-City Valley Cats on Saturday, the Brooklyn Cyclones lost the first game 4-3 after the bullpen lost a late two-run lead, but stormed back in the second game behind Pedro P. Martinez and live bats, winning 6-2. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/mejia1.jpg" alt="" width="304" height="291" /> Five and a half games behind the first place Staten Island Yankees before a double header with the Tri-City Valley Cats on Saturday, the Brooklyn Cyclones lost the first game 4-3 after the bullpen lost a late two-run lead, but stormed back in the second game behind Pedro P. Martinez and live bats, winning 6-2.</p>
<p>Five games back of the McNamara Division leading Yanks after the split, the Clones know they still have enough time to surprise a few people before the season&#8217;s climax.</p>
<p>“We know that there is time left and we&#8217;re playing well,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We&#8217;re right in the middle of everything.”</p>
<p>Jose Jimenez got the Cyclones on the board in the first on a RBI double off Tri-City starter Shane Wolf that scored JR Voyles and gave Brooklyn an early 1-0 lead. Recent addition Juan Lagares then added an RBI single, giving the Mets Single-A affiliate a 2-0 advantage after only one inning of play.</p>
<p>After giving up two hits in the first inning, Brooklyn starter Jenrry Mejia threw two scoreless innings in the second and third, but wasn&#8217;t able to get himself out of a base-loaded jam with no outs in the fourth. Giving up a run on a Jonathan Gaston RBI single, Mejia was saved by a double play that got him out of the inning with the Cyclones still ahead by a run.</p>
<p>The Baby Bums got the two-run lead right back after a Kirk Nieuwenhuis RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, but Mejia got himself into another bases-loaded dilemma with two outs in the fifth and walked in a run that made it a one-run ballgame once again. Yury Santana was then summoned from the Brooklyn pen and got the Clones out of the inning with the score still 3-2.</p>
<p>“He was very inconsistent today,” Alfonzo said of his 18-year-old starter. “He was all over the place. I think he was trying to do too much out there today.”</p>
<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/alfonzothrownout.jpg" alt="" width="298" height="235" /> Santana had problems of his own as well and left in the sixth with no outs and the bases-loaded for Stephen Clyne, who gave up a sacrifice fly that tied the score at 3-3. A J.B. Shuck ground out then sent another Tri-City Valley run across the plate, giving the Valley Cats their first lead of the game at 4-3.</p>
<p>The Clones offense wasn&#8217;t able to come back in the sixth and after a Caesar Cordido strike out, Alfonzo was ejected for arguing the called strike three with home plate umpire Matt Jones.</p>
<p>“I wasn&#8217;t upset about the call,” said Alfonzo. “I was mad that he made the call before the pitch got to the catcher. The ball was halfway there when he called it a strike. I don&#8217;t think it was right. I was disappointed about it.”</p>
<p>Clyne continued to pitch in the seventh and hurled a scoreless inning, but it wasn&#8217;t enough, as Brooklyn  left the tying run on first base, after a Jimenez strike out ended the game with Valley City victorious 4-3.</p>
<p>Game two of the twin bill started eerily similar to game one, as the Cyclones jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first courtesy of RBI doubles by JR Voyles and Eric Campbell. In the second, the Mets Single-A affiliate got two more runs after a Nieuwenhuis single and error by Tri-City starting pitcher Jarred Holloway, stretching the lead to 4-0.</p>
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/pedro.jpg" alt="" width="190" height="228" />Clones starter Pedro P. Martinez supported his teammates by allowing only one run and striking out six in 5.2 innings of work.</p>
<p>“He had a good sinker and breaking ball tonight,” said Alfonzo. “All season-long he&#8217;s pitched well for us.”</p>
<p>With Martinez baffling Tri-City, Campbell padded the Cyclones lead in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run bomb that put the Mets Single-A affiliate ahead by five runs.</p>
<p>U-Conn product Erik Turgeon came into the game in the sixth with two outs and gave up a run in the seventh, but pitched well enough to secure a 6-2 Brooklyn win.</p>
<p>Splitting the series, the Baby Bums will look to win the rubber game tomorrow before taking a three-day breather for the NYPL All-Star Break.</p>
<p>Still hanging around a playoff spot with 18 games remaining, Brooklyn knows how important the next stretch of games are in determining their post-season hopes.</p>
<p>“This is very exciting,” said Alfonzo. “We&#8217;re right in the middle of things for the wild card and I know these guys are playing hard.”</p>
<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_8730.jpg" alt="" width="196" height="287" /><em>Notes-</em></p>
<p>Lagares had hits in both games of the twin bill and until Reese Havens is completely recovered from another groin injury he suffered on the road this week, Lagares figures to be the team&#8217;s starting shortstop.</p>
<p>“He brings a lot to the table,” said Alfonzo. “He can hit, run and he&#8217;s very smart. I hope he keeps doing what he&#8217;s doing.”</p>
<p>Brooklyn Dodgers legend Carl Erskine will be at Keyspan Park tomorrow and will play the National Anthem on his harmonica in addition to having his number retired by the team.</p>
<p><em><strong>Photos by Ron Hatcher.</strong></em></p>
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		<title>Fuller Back and Ready to Rock</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/07/fuller-back-and-ready-to-rock/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/07/fuller-back-and-ready-to-rock/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Acco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn Cyclones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullpen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Changeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connecticut State University]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[First Appearance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Baseman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ground Balls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Jacobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jim Fuller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Left Arm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pennant Race]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Sitting On The Bench]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southern Connecticut State]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Spot Starter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two weeks into the 2008 Brooklyn Cyclones season, it looked like 21st round pick Jim Fuller was beginning to carve himself a nice niche on the team as their left-handed spot starter and long reliever. But after just two appearances, it was apparent that something was wrong with the southpaw, who threw a whopping 93 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/DSCF0614.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="303" /> Two weeks into the 2008 Brooklyn Cyclones season, it looked like 21st round pick Jim Fuller was beginning to carve himself a nice niche on the team as their left-handed spot starter and long reliever.</p>
<p>But after just two appearances, it was apparent that something was wrong with the southpaw, who threw a whopping 93 innings and compiled an impressive 9-3 record at Southern Connecticut State University before being drafted this season. Suffering from a strained left arm for over a month, Fuller&#8217;s absence created a void in the bullpen that the team never fully recovered from.</p>
<p>However, since making his first appearance back with the team on Aug. 2, where he threw two scoreless innings, Fuller has proved that good things come to those who wait. During the outing, Fuller showed just how thrilled he was to be back in the lineup by fielding a pair of ground balls and firing them over to first baseman Jason Jacobs with an intensity that could only be described as “energetic.”</p>
<p>Obviously happy to be back on the mound, Fuller is ready to be a influential member of the Brooklyn staff and seems fully recovered from the arm problems that took him off the roster for most of the first half of the season.</p>
<p>“It was the first time I was out there in a month, so I was really anxious to get started,” said Fuller, who&#8217;s fastball clocks in at 92 miles-per-hour. “It&#8217;s hard sitting on the bench for a month not knowing when you&#8217;re going to be ready to come back. All you can do is stick with your rehab and do whatever it is you have to do to get back out there and that&#8217;s exactly what I did. I&#8217;m so excited to be back”</p>
<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: left;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_5359.jpg" alt="" />Aside from his fastball, Fuller also throws a curve ball, slider and a changeup, which gives him an uncanny amount of versatility out of a Brooklyn bullpen that hasn&#8217;t been very solid over its past few games.</p>
<p>Looking for more depth in the middle of a pennant race, the Cyclones coaching staff is fully aware of what Fuller brings to the table and plan to use him accordingly.</p>
<p>“We&#8217;re happy to have him back and healthy,” said Cyclones  skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We don&#8217;t know where he fits in right now, but I do know that we&#8217;re going to be working him in as much as we can the rest of the season. He&#8217;s going to get plenty of innings.”</p>
<p>Despite the coaching staff&#8217;s fondness of his repertoire and poise on the mound, Fuller knows with crafty relievers like Roy Merritt, Chris Schwinden, Wendy Rosa and Jimmy Johnson in the bullpen that playing time may be harder to come by than the coaching staff thinks.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, he&#8217;s focused on making the most of what&#8217;s left of his season.</p>
<p>“It feels great to know that this team is going to give me an opportunity to prove myself ,” Fuller, who models his game after Mets closer Billy Wagner, said. “I want to help this team win and we&#8217;re playing well right now, so it&#8217;s good that I get to be a part of all of this. I want to contribute as much as I can.”<em></em></p>
<p><em>Notes</em>- According to a source, former Cyclone Bobby Malek was coaching first base in place of Guadalupe Jabalera, who has left the team for personal reasons. To my knowledge, Malek is the first former Clone to ever serve as a coach.<a href="http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&amp;t=g_box&amp;gid=2008_08_06_broasx_lowasx_1" ><img class="alignright" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; float: right;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/dbbavatarsmall.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><em>Link-</em></p>
<p><a href="http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&amp;t=g_box&amp;gid=2008_08_06_broasx_lowasx_1">Box Score from last night&#8217;s 7-0 Cyclone win.<br />
</a></p>
<p>Update-New Podcast up!</p>
<p>Interview with Jordan Abruzzo on 8-04.You can download it from I-Tunes <a rel="nofollow" href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=284456470" >here</a>, or stream it from the web, <a href="http://media.switchpod.com/users/dembrooklynbums/jordanabruzzopodcast.mp3 " >here</a>. Enjoy!</p>
<p><em><strong>Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher</strong>.</em></p>
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		<title>Bullpen Squanders Mejia&#8217;s Solid Outing in 9-4 Loss</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/05/bullpen-squanders-mejias-gem-in-9-4-loss/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/05/bullpen-squanders-mejias-gem-in-9-4-loss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:06:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baisley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ball Game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn Cyclones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullpen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comeback Attempt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marcos Vechionacci]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mejia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outfielder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pitches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Playoff Chances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scoreless Innings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seventh Inning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Solo Homer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spot Starter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staten Island Yankees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Two Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yanks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=202</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two games back of the Staten Island Yankees before Monday night&#8217;s game, the Brooklyn Cyclones didn&#8217;t need to be reminded how big a win could be in determining their playoff chances this season. Their bullpen somehow failed to receive the message however as another solid pitching performance by Jenry Mejia and timely hitting were wasted [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_7165.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="294" height="257" align="right" /> Two games back of the Staten Island Yankees before Monday night&#8217;s game, the Brooklyn Cyclones didn&#8217;t need to be reminded how big a win could be in determining their playoff chances this season.</p>
<p>Their bullpen somehow failed to receive the message however as another solid pitching performance by Jenry Mejia and timely hitting were wasted in an ugly three-error, four-run seventh inning that resulted in a 9-4 Staten Island win.</p>
<p>“We didn&#8217;t play that bad until the seventh inning,” said outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. “Then we made mistakes and the Yankees took advantage.”</p>
<p>Staten Island got on the board first, courtesy of a Brian Baisley RBI ground out in the opening frame, but starter Mejia [2-1, 4.30 ERA] limited the damage and kept it a 1-0 ball game after striking out Marcos Vechionacci to end the inning. Brooklyn carried that momentum into the bottom half of the first and quickly tied the game on a Nieuwenhuis lead-off triple and an RBI ground out of their own from JR Voyles.</p>
<p>Mitch Abeita wasn&#8217;t too fond of the Brooklyn comeback attempt however and nailed a solo-homer over the left field wall in the second that gave the Yankees their one-run lead back. Staten Island spot starter Andrew Shive then rebounded after a sloppy first and managed to hurl 3 2/3 scoreless innings on 57 pitches before being replaced by Drew Shetrone with runners on first and second with two outs. The Mets Single-A affiliate couldn&#8217;t get back in the game though, as Caesar Cordido was retired on strikes to end the inning and keep the game at 2-1 through the fourth.</p>
<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/campbell1.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="215" height="423" align="left" /> The Clones didn&#8217;t waste another opportunity in the fifth though, as Eric Campbell doubled home Nieuwenhuis, who reached base on a walk, tying the game. The next hitter, Ike Davis, then hit an RBI ground out that gave Brooklyn a 3-2 lead.</p>
<p>Things continued to go the Baby Bum&#8217;s way in the sixth as Mejia settled down and kept the Yanks scoreless and kept the game deadlocked at 3-2.</p>
<p>“I felt great out there today,” Mejia said through a translator. “In my earlier starts, I wasn&#8217;t as comfortable and I felt hitters were waiting on my pitches. It felt like they knew what I was going to throw. I&#8217;m comfortable out there now.”</p>
<p>Brooklyn then replaced Mejia with lefty side-armer  Roy Merritt, who had an even bigger cushion to work with after a Nieuwenhuis RBI double in the top of the sixth gave the &#8216;Clones a 4-2 lead.</p>
<p>Uncharacteristically erratic, Merritt, who threw a wild pitch and committed a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt, wasn&#8217;t helped either by two errors by his teammates in the inning, one of which allowed Jahdiel Santamaria to score and made it one-run ballgame.</p>
<p>Lasting only two out into the seventh, Merritt was replaced by Erik Turgeon, who couldn&#8217;t get the Clones out of trouble either, giving up a Vechionacci RBI double that tied the score. Things continued to get worse for Turgeon, who left the game in favor of Wendy Rosa after Jack Rye added an RBI single that gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead.</p>
<p>“That&#8217;s when it all started to fall apart,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Merritt was throwing outside and was staying away from contact. It wasn&#8217;t any of their faults though. Our last few starters went short and I&#8217;ve been using them a lot.”</p>
<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_7899.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="265" height="338" align="right" /> Rosa, like Merritt and Turgeon wasn&#8217;t his usual self, as Dan Brewer enjoyed the same success as Rye, slapping an RBI single that gave the Yankees a two-run lead.</p>
<p>Losing their lead and most of the 8,667 fans in attendance after Josue Selenes shut them down in the seventh and eighth, Brooklyn looked demoralized and exhausted. Staten Island continued to feast on Brooklyn&#8217;s bullpen however, scoring three runs in the ninth off reliever Jim Fuller on a Steven Strausbaugh RBI single and a Santamaria sacrifice fly, which gave them a five-run lead.</p>
<p>Still unable to mount a comeback over the final inning, Brooklyn went down without a fight against Staten Island reliever Nick Asselin, resulting in an ugly 9-4 loss.</p>
<p>Now three-games back of the Yankees with no games left between them this season, the Clones know they&#8217;ll have their work cut out for them if they want to catch their cross-bridge rivals for first place in the McNamara Division this season.</p>
<p>“The bullpen is usually great,” said Mejia. “But it&#8217;s not going to be that way everyday.”</p>
<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/IMG_7981.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" /></p>
<p><em>Notes-</em></p>
<p>Despite the loss, Brooklyn is 11-4 in their past 15 games.</p>
<p>Cyclones first baseman Jason Jacobs was sent to St. Lucie following the game.</p>
<p>According to manager Edgar Alfonzo, Clones reliever Yury Santana suffered a strained muscle in his throwing arm on Sunday in Staten Island and his current status is unknown.</p>
<p>Video-</p>
<p>Caesar Cordido strikes out in the fourth.</p>
<p>[youtube aabKViONEB4]<br />
<em><strong>Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.<br />
</strong></em></p>
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		<title>Clones Not All Right on Ladies Night, Fall 6-1 to Yanks</title>
		<link>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/03/clones-not-all-right-on-ladies-night-fall-6-1-to-yanks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/2008/08/03/clones-not-all-right-on-ladies-night-fall-6-1-to-yanks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:34:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Patrick Hickey, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2008 season]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carrillo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cross Bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Appearance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Game Winning Streak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jerseys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jim Fuller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ladies Night]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Left Shoulder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marcos Vechionacci]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pitcher Jim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Playoff Hunt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rbi Triple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scoreless Innings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Shaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staten Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taylor Grote]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Two Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yanks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.dembrooklynbums.com/?p=194</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It may have just been a coincidence that Saturday&#8217;s game against the Yankees was Ladies Night, but the Baby Bums weren&#8217;t anything like the bunch of strapping young men that have gotten back into the playoff hunt over the past week. Riding a five-game winning-streak that got them within two games of Staten Island, Brooklyn, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/DSCF0546.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="316" height="236" align="right" /> It may have just been a coincidence that Saturday&#8217;s game against the Yankees was Ladies Night, but the Baby Bums weren&#8217;t anything like the bunch of strapping young men that have gotten back into the playoff hunt over the past week.</p>
<p>Riding a five-game winning-streak that got them within two games of Staten Island, Brooklyn, who wore pink embroidered letters on their jerseys for the night, looked shy at the plate and confused on the mound, falling 6-1 to their cross-bridge rivals.</p>
<p>“Things didn&#8217;t go our way today,” said. DH Jordan Abruzzo. “We have to put this game behind us.”</p>
<p>Staten Island got started early after a Marcos Vechionacci RBI single in the first off Brooklyn starter Scott Shaw, who allowed two hits and struck out two in his first inning of work, despite falling behind almost every hitter he faced. Rather than bounce back after getting into trouble like he has most of this season, Shaw continued to struggle in the second and lasted only two outs, after a Taylor Grote RBI double, Addison Maruszak RBI triple and David Adams two-run homer gave the Yankees a 5-0 lead.</p>
<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/P1010121.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="294" height="170" align="left" /> “It felt like everything I was throwing, they were hitting,” said Shaw. “It didn&#8217;t matter where it was.”</p>
<p>Mattias Carrillo was then summoned from the Brooklyn pen and gave up a RBI single to Vechionacci, his second in as many innings, before getting Mitch Albeita out on strikes to end the inning. Things then settled down, as Carrillo hurled four scoreless innings and kept  the score 6-0 through the sixth.</p>
<p>The Mets Single-A affiliate&#8217;s offense couldn&#8217;t get back in the game however, as Staten Island starter Nick Montgomery was stellar, allowing only three hits in five innings of work. Jacinto Gonell replaced him in sixth and was also solid, keeping the Clones offense at bay through the seventh.</p>
<p>In the seventh, Clones pitcher Jim Fuller then made his first appearance since landing on the DL with a strained left shoulder a few weeks ago and responded with two scoreless innings. Wendy Rosa then pitched a scoreless ninth before Staten Island reliever Jason Kiley allowed a solo-homer from JR Voyles and a pair of hits to Jason Jacobs and Jose Jimenez.</p>
<p><img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/dragonscrew714/P1010137.jpg" border="1" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="308" height="333" align="right" /></p>
<p>“We had opportunities to get back in the game,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We didn&#8217;t take advantage of them.”</p>
<p>Now three games back of the Yankees with two games left in the season series, Brooklyn knows the next week will be crucial in assessing their playoff chances.</p>
<p>“We&#8217;re pretty confident right now despite the loss,” said catcher Ralph Henriquez. “We just have to come back strong.”<br />
<em><br />
Notes-</em></p>
<p>2006 &amp; 2008 Brooklyn Cyclone Daniel Murphy made his major league debut with the Mets last night, going 1 for 4 with a run scored.</p>
<p>Cyclones first baseman Ike Davis is expected to take fielding and batting practice today. If he then feels up to it, he&#8217;ll play in today&#8217;s game.</p>
<p><em>Video-</em></p>
<p>Jason Jacobs first AB at Keyspan since 2007.</p>
<p>[youtube aCq1SExjLnU]</p>
<p><strong><em>Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. &amp; Jim Dolan. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.<br />
</em></strong></p>
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