NYPL Brooklyn Cyclones

Cyclones Top Yankees on Opening Day

Published on June 19, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Brooklyn Cyclones News Release


The Cyclones beat the rival Staten Island Yankees 5-1, in front of a crowd of 8,888 on Tuesday to kick off their 2007 season, thanks to a solid performance from starter J.J. Leaper. Leaper pitched five shutout innings and recorded three strikeouts, and was helped by third baseman J.R. Voyles, who sparked the offense with a key three-run home run in the bottom of the 6th to break a 0-0 tie.

Leaper escaped jams with runners in scoring position in every inning he pitched except the third. With one out in the 5th, Luis Nunez hit a line drive triple to left-center field, only to be stranded on third. Staten Island left 10 total runners on base for the game.

Yankee starter Gabriel Medina pitched a solid five innings, only allowing one hit while striking out six and retiring the last 10 Cyclones batters he faced. He gave way to Nick Chigges in the bottom of the 6th, who retired the first two batters of the inning before Ender Chavez singled on a ground ball through the middle. Brooklyn's Will Vogl followed with a single on a hit and run that moved Chavez to third. Voyles (pictured, by George Napolitano), who replaced Zach Lutz at third base in the 5th inning, then came to the plate for the first time this season, and sent a high fastball over the left field fence for his first professional home run, to make it 3-0 in favor of the Cyclones.

The Cyclones played a great defensive game, as well. Lutz made two nice plays at the hot corner in the first two innings of the game, before leaving with a sprained ankle. In the top of the 6th, a blooper to right field was dropped on a diving attempt by Chavez, who then quickly recovered to throw out Dave Williams at second base trying to extend his single. The 6th ended with Brooklyn catcher Yasmil Bucce gunning down Braedyn Pruitt trying to steal second base.

Edgar Ramirez pitched a scoreless 6th and 7th to pick up the win, and Grady Hinchman came on in the 8th to earn a hold. After the Cyclones loaded the bases against Staten Island pitcher Jason Kiley in the bottom of the 8th, Raul Reyes came up and stroked a one-out single to right field to add two insurance runs. Dan McDonald came on in the 9th, giving up one run on a passed ball after Justin Snyder tripled, but then closed the game out with three quick outs to secure Brooklyn's first win of the season.

The Cyclones travel to Staten Island on Wednesday, before returning hom to take on the Yankees again in the series finale. On Thursday, the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Home Plate Stone, courtesy of KeySpan.

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New York-Penn League Stories from June 19, 2007


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