by In front of a crowd of 9,881 fans, the largest opening day attendance in Cyclone history, the Staten Island Yankees faced off with their crosstown rivals for the second night in a row hoping for a different outcome. However the Yankees rally fell short and inconsistent pitching and errors cost the Yankees as they fell to the Cyclones 9-6.
The Staten Island Yankees were the first to get on the board when they plated 2 runs in the top of the second inning. Kelvin DeLeon started it off when he singled on a grounder and moved to second when Kevin Mahoney was hit by the pitch. Jose Mojica then grounded into a force out where Kevin Mahoney was erased at second. DeLeon scores on a throwing error by the second baseman attempting a double play and also moved Mojica to second. Carlos Urena then doubled on a fly ball to center for the second Yankee run.
The Cyclones plated their first run of the game in the bottom of the third after Joe Bonfe singled; Taylor Freeman grounded into a force out and moved to second on a wild pitch. Rylan Sandoval walked to put 2 on and then Jet Butler walked to load the bases. Darrell Ceciliani then grounded into a force out that brought home Freeman to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth Yankees starter Samuel Elam got into trouble, allowing 4 runs, 1 earned. Jeff Flagg started it with a walk then JB Brown put down a sacrifice bunt but a throwing error by Elam allowed Brown to be safe. Flagg and Brown then moved up 90 feet when William Cherry laid down a sacrifice bunt. Joe Bonfe then walked to load the bases before Taylor Freeman reached on a force attempt and fielding error by shortstop Jose Mojica that allowed Flagg to score and tie the game. With the bases still loaded Rylan Sandoval was hit by the pitch to put the Cyclones ahead. A 2-run single to left for Jet Butler was next and gave Brooklyn the 5-2 lead. After Elam got Darrell Ceciliani to ground out Manny Barreda took over on the mound and got Cory Vaughn to ground out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth center fielder Eduardo Sosa made a nice diving catch on a line drive hit by JB Brown for the first out with a runner on. After a fly out and an error Barreda got Taylor Freeman to strikeout and end the inning.
Barreda was touched for 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when he was touched for 4 runs. Rylan Sandoval started the inning off with a ground rule double to right field and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Jet Butler then walked. Darrell Ceciliani hit a RBI base hit to left, brining Butler to second. Cory Vaughn grounded out to move the runners up 90 feet before Jeff Flagg singled to left on a ground ball. With runners at the corners JB Brown walked to load the bases. After William Cherry grounded out Joe Bonfe sent the ball to left field to plating Ceciliani and Flagg to give Brooklyn the big 9-2 lead.
Mike Gipson came in the game in the eighth inning, relieving Manny Barreda who went 2 and a third innings allowing 4 runs, all earned, on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3 of the 15 batters faced.
The Baby Bombers started a small rally in the top of the eighth; Francisco Arcia walked to start off the inning and then moved to second when Shane Brown lined the ball into center for a base hit. Kyle Roller was up next and he hit a fly ball to center to load the bases for Kelvin DeLeon. DeLeon hit into a fielder’s choice but an error on the first baseman allowed every1 to be safe and the Yankees to plate another run. Kevin Mahoney then lined the first pitch he saw to right for a 2-run single, bringing DeLeon to third for Jose Mojica. The Cyclones went to the bullpen, bringing in Nelson Pereira to pitch to Mojica who lined the first pitch into left field for an RBI. With runners at first and second Carlos Urena came up to the plate and sent the ball deep to center field but the Cyclones centerfielder made an amazing diving catch to save a possible double. Eduardo Sosa step up next and he struck out to go back to the top of the Yankees order in the person of Casey Stevenson. A double steal brought the runners up 90 feet with 2 outs. Stevenson then struck out to end the Yankees rally.
Mike Gipson came out after that long half inning, being replaced by Nathan Forer. Gipson pitched 1 inning allowing a hit and striking out 1. The first batter Forer faced was Jeff Flagg who reached base via a fielding error by Yankees second baseman Casey Stevenson. JB Brown then walked to put 2 men on with no outs for William Cherry who laid down a perfect bunt to put both runners in scoring position. Joe Bonfe was up next and he grounded to the third baseman Kevin Mahoney and he went to the plate to get the runner out on the fielder’s choice. Taylor Freeman then struck out to end the inning and get the Yankees out of trouble.
In the top of the ninth Francisco Arcia was the leadoff hitter once again and he flew out to left field to for Shane Brown who was hit by the pitch to put a runner at first and bring up Kyle Roller who struck out for the second out. Kelvin DeLeon then walked up to the plate and he struck out looking to end the game.
Kevin Mahoney reached base in all 4 of his plate appearances in the game, being hit by a pitch in 3 of them and hitting a 2-RBI single in another. Leftfielder Shane Brown was 2 for 3 with a walk. Kelvin De Leon had a tough night going just 1 for 5 and striking out 3 times. The Yankees left a total of 8 men on base and was just 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Baby Bomber defensive as struggled early on this season with 5 errors in today’s game, 2 of them on shortstop Jose Mojica.
That was the second loss in as many days for the Staten Island Yankees; they look to right the ship tomorrow afternoon when they face off against the Brooklyn Cyclones at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George. Baby Bomber starter Samuel Elam took the loss, his first of the season. Cyclones starter Chris Hilliard earned the victory.
