It didn’t turn out to be much of an inner-city rivalry; it was just good baseball.
A core of young pitchers propelled the Brooklyn Cyclones into sole possession of first place in the McNamara Division, with a weekend sweep of the Staten Island Yankees.
Despite ferry service provided by the city to shuttle diehard fans across the Narrows to each of the two games in the home-and-home series, Keyspan Park was packed Sunday with mostly Brooklyn fans, who watched Cyclone pitchers Luz Portobanco and Blake McGinley team up for a two-hit shutout.
“I was hitting my spots, trying to get some good balls, and I got them,” said the 21-year-old Portobanco, who improved his ERA to 1.65 with the win.
He credited pitching coach Bob Ojeda with improving his curveball, which he was able to use effectively against the Yankees.
“I had everything,” said Portobanco.
Sunday’s win was also the first Coney Island appearance for Mets’ star Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who started a rehabilitation assignment with the Cyclones on Saturday in the game on Staten Island. Cyclones’ management had talked up the possibility that high-profile Mets players would be joining the team for brief stints since the team began planning its inaugural season.
A crowd of 7,935, the largest attendance for a game at Keyspan Park since the team began selling standing-room tickets, showered Shinjo with applause every time he stepped to the plate in appreciation of the opportunity to see a popular major leaguer in such an intimate setting.
The Cyclones certainly appreciated his 1-for-3 hitting contribution as well, despite needing only a small amount of offense to keep the Yankees at bay.
The only time the Yankees had a runner in scoring position was in the fifth inning with one out, when Portobanco walked Yankees first baseman Aaron Rifkin. Rifkin advanced to second when the next batter grounded out.
Portobanco made the inning interesting when an errant pitch deflected off of Cyclones catcher Francisco Sosa’s glove, allowing Rifkin to advance to third. With the game still scoreless, Portobanco forced right fielder Jeff Christensen to ground out, ending the Yankee threat.
The following inning, the Cyclones took advantage of a miscommunication between pitcher Bobby Wood and catcher Mitch Evans and turned an infield single into the game’s only run.
Second baseman Danny Garcia led off the inning with a 2-2 dribbler that stopped halfway between home plate and the pitcher’s mound.
Both Wood and Evans went for the ball and then both hesitated.
Wood eventually picked up the ball and tossed it to first base, but Garcia beat out the tag.
Shinjo drew a two-out walk, advancing Garcia to second. First baseman Jay Caligiuri, who came into the game batting .382 with five RBIs at home, then dropped a single down the line in shallow right field to score Garcia and advance Shinjo to third.
Wood ended the inning by forcing the Cyclones’ hot-hitting left fielder Frank Corr into a ground out.
The inning was the only blemish in an otherwise stellar five-strikeout game for Wood, who finished the game for the Yankees.
Despite twice striking out the major leaguer Shinjo, Wood said that he was disappointed with the final outcome of the game.
“It’s pretty bad,” said Wood. “The ball just wasn’t bouncing our way today.”
Further evidence of the Yankee’s misfortune came in the eighth inning when it appeared that Wood had caught the Clones’ Angel Pagan in a rundown between first and second. As first baseman Rifkin ran to apply the tag for the easy out, Pagan arched his back just out of the way and made it safely back to first.
The Yankees argued that Rifkin had made the tag and a lengthy discussion between the infield umpire and Yankees Manager Dave Jorn ensued.
Even with the close call going their way, the Clones were unable to bring the base runner home and needed a solid two innings from relief pitcher Blake McGinley to secure their 10th straight win.
In the first game of the Staten Island series, Cyclones’ pitchers Matt Gahan, Mike Cox and Brett Herbison allowed just three hits and no earned runs, as each worked three innings in the 3-1 win.
The 25-year-old Gahan, who continues to lead the league with a 0.40 ERA and 29 strikeouts, has emerged as an on-field leader of the Cyclones.
(July 23, 2001 Issue)
