Cyclones 5
Yankees 3
June 17, at Staten Island
The Cyclones’ dream of a perfect season got off to a good start with a crisp win against their cross-Narrows rivals in the opening night game of the 2011 season.
The Cyclones got on the board first, putting up a three spot in the second. Luke Stewart led off with a single, followed by two walks to load the bases. Amauris Valdez got the Cyclones’ first RBI of the season on a single, followed by a wild pitch that scored another run. Daniel Muno followed with a SAC fly.
The Yankees got two back in the third, on a homer and a SAC fly, and then tied the game in the fifth, thanks to a Muno error and a groundout.
But the Cyclones got that run back — and the lead — in the sixth on Travis Taijeron’s triple and Dylan Brown’s RBI single.
And the Clones added an insurance run in the ninth on Ismael Tijerina’s RBI single.
Closer Jeremy Gould pitched a one, two, three ninth for the save.
Pitchers are clearly ahead of hitters right now, with 13 Cyclones striking out on the night — everyone at least once, except Taijeron — and 10 Yankees whiffing.