Brooklyn Cyclones Wild Card Lead Over Batavia Muckdogs Down To One Game

Thursday not only turned into a bad night for the home team, the evening was costly as well.  Any momentum Brooklyn generated these last few games is negated.  Hudson Valley sprung back last night to gain a series split against the Cyclones, and once again lead the McNamara Division over the Coney Island Nine by six games.

Game two of Brooklyn’s home and home showdown against the Renegades boiled down to the bullpens.  Both starting pitchers effectively dueled to a 1-1 stalemate.  Hudson Valley’s Eduar Quinonez pitched six satisfactory innings, limiting Brooklyn to five hits, and one earned run.  He walked three and struck out three.  Pitching for the home team, Brooklyn’s Luis Mateo put forth a slightly stronger effort than his opponent.  He lasted seven full innings, and likewise limited the Renegades to one run, but on four hits.  Luis only issued one walk, and totaled eight strikeouts.

Offensively, Brooklyn got on the scoreboard first.  Richie Rodriguez singled in the second inning, and eventually came around to score when Brandon Nimmo grounded into a fielder’s choice.  Hudson Valley tied the score in the fourth.  Luis Mateo plunked ‘Gades lead-off batter, Joey Rickard.  Then a come-backer scored 1 to 3, followed by a passed ball, advanced Rickard to third base.  Justin O’Conner stepped in and singled, tying the game at one.

Coach Donnelly called upon Paul Sewald for the eighth inning.  Hudson Valley threatened when they struck for a one out double, and followed with a single.  Seward instead induced an inning ending double play.

After seemingly getting hit hard in the eighth, what happened next was almost predictable.  Hudson Valley scored a pair off Sewald in the top of the ninth.  After a lead off single by Ryan Dunn, Leonardo Reginatto muted the Coney Island crowd when he connected on his first home run of the season, giving the Renegades a 3-1 lead.

Over the Renegades final three innings, Brooklyn’s bats were kept quiet by Hudson Valley’s bullpen duo of Jose Molina and Ryan Garton.  Combined they limited the Cyclones to two hits, no runs, and issued two walks.  In securing Hudson Valley’s 3-1 victory, Ryan Garton was credited with the win, and improved to 4-0 this season.  For the home team, Brooklyn’s Paul Sewald suffered his first loss of the season.

That was only half the damage.  Now for the rest.  The Batavia Muckdogs are a rabid team and on the loose.  They have all but chewed Brooklyn’s seven game Wild Card lead to shreds.  That said, they won again Thursday night, this time defeating the Williamsport Crosscutters by an emphatic 11-2 score.  The ‘Dogs are now 9-1 in their last ten games.  At the conclusion of Thursday’s action, all that separates them from the Brooklyn Cyclones and a playoff spot, is one game.

Six games remain in the regular season.