This would actually be our second trip to Coney Island this week, and the return trip was spurned by the original one. On Sunday, we had gone to the Cyclones game, and in perusing the giveaways, noted that on Thursday it was Irish Heritage Night, and they would be giving away special jersey's (Jersday Thursday promo) for the first 3,000 people there. They were pretty sweet looking threads, and we love the ballpark on Coney Island, so we made plans to head back there on Thursday.
Left around lunchtime, stopping at the Quaker Steak and Lube in Carbondale for some lunch. Made the rest of the drive to Coney Island and parked next to the ballpark. Walked out onto the pier a ways, as well as down the boardwalk. We stopped at one place to grab some drinks - I had a Brooklyn Summer Ale, and it was awesome! We headed back to the ballpark at this point to check on the line at the gate. Arriving there, shortly before five o'clock, we found two lines, each with 50-100 people in them. Yikes! Considering the gates didn't open until 5:30, this was pretty substantial. We decided at this point to grab a place in line and wait.
Gates opened promptly at five, and we had no trouble getting our sweet looking jersey's - a definite to wear for future Cyclones games. We stayed at the game until the seventh inning, then headed down Surf Avenue to Nathan's for a bite to eat before making the drive back home. Got stuck in construction around the Delaware Water Gap, and then again near the outlet mall, so that delayed us getting home a bit. Finally rolled in around 2:00.
July 7th-- Brooklyn, NY -- Brandon Brown blasted a three-run homerun in the bottom of the third inning and Eduardo Aldama pitched 3.2 efficient innings, but a late three-run seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Vermont Lake Monsters (13-6) defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones (11-10), 5-4, in front of 7,693 fans on Irish Heritage Night at MCU Park.
Brooklyn began the bottom of the third with back-to-back walks by Xorge Carillo and Danny Muno, who returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with a right hand contusion. Brandon Brown followed up with his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The home run sailed well past the left field wall to give Brooklyn a 3-0 lead.
Aldama, who recorded nine strikeouts in his last outing against Staten Island on July 2nd, struck out six in 3.0 innings before departing in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded. T.J. Chism struck out Aaron Shipman swinging to avoid further damage. Aldama finished the evening with seven punchouts allowing a run on three hits.
The Lake Monsters narrowed the deficit to a run an inning later off of Chism. Shortstop Sean Jamieson led-off the frame with a double on a groundball to left. A 5-3 groundout by Chih-Fang Pan advanced Jamieson to third before a sacrifice fly to center by Jordan Tripp brought him home for a slim one-run lead.
Jack Leathersich made his Cyclones debut on the mound in the top of the sixth inning, striking out the side in an inning of work before trouble unfolded in the top of the seventh inning.
Cyclones’ reliever Orlando Tovar (1-1) replaced Leathersich and issued two lead off walks before a Xorge Carillo fielding error loaded the bases. A wild pitch plated the tying-run and an ensuing sac-fly would score the go-ahead run for Vermont. A single to first by Jordan Tripp brought home another run for a 5-3 lead.
Brooklyn responded a half inning later with a run off of Vermont reliever Jeff Urlaub. With two outs, Brandon Brown singled to left field and advanced to second on a passed ball. Javier Rodriguez drove in Brown the very next at-bat with a double to left for his team-leading 18th RBI. J.B. Brown, who also returned from a DL stint with a right hamstring strain, hit into a 5-3 groundout to end the threat.
The Cyclones attempted one-last comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Danny Muno began the frame with a single to right but Tanner Peters retired the next three hitters in order, including a deep warning track flyout to left by J.B. Brown, to earn his fifth save of the season in two innings of work. Both teams combined for 30 strikeouts.
The Cyclones will conclude their three-game set with the Lake Monster tomorrow, 7 PM, at MCU Park. In a battle of southpaws, Carlos Vazquez (1-2, 2.41 ERA) opposes Brent Powers (0-0, 4.75 ERA). The first 3,000 fans will receive a Cyclones Visor courtesy of Pespi Max and everyone will be able to run the bases at the conclusion of the game. Tickets are still available by calling 1-800- 507-TIXX, at the MCU Park Box Office or on BrooklynCyclones.com.
Brooklyn, New York
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Total Mileage: 382 Miles
Page Last Updated: July 8, 2011