The Brooklyn Cyclones’ sixth home opener was over before it started.
Well, actually, it was over the minute Kyle Larsen — the Staten Island Yankees power-hitting first baseman — stepped up to the plate in the first inning and smashed an 0–2 fastball into the Keyspan Park bleachers, quieting an exuberant Opening Night crowd and putting the Yanks up for good 2–0 Tuesday.
And before the over-capacity crowd of 9,004 could even finish their first round of Chef One fried dumplings — the newest savory treats at the ballpark — the Clones were down 10–0, thanks to a seven-run second inning that was punctuated by a Tony Roth three-run dinger to left.
Thus began a horrible evening at the sold-out seaside ballpark in Coney Island, which has been hosting record crowds since it was opened in 2001.
It got worse the next night on Staten Island, when the Cyclones blew a five-run lead, allowing the Yankees to win, 8–7.
But on Tuesday night, the Keyspan faithful, as ever, were undaunted by the Yankee fusillade, sticking around — and continuing to suck down the delectable potstickers — long enough to see the Yanks tack on three more runs in the third, thanks to slopping fielding and Larsen’s second homer of the young season.
The Cyclones made five errors on the night — six if you count showing up.
The game ended, mercilessly, at close to 11 pm with the score 18–0 — the worst loss in Cyclone history, an illustrious five years that have included one championship, plenty of playoff drama and a dozen players sent to the majors.
But this week, the Yankees were crowing.
“This was a good start to the year,” said Larsen, a second-year Yankee, who had an MVP-caliber season for the NY–Penn League champs last year. “It was good to see the team come out strong. This was a fun game.”
But not some much fun for Cyclones fans.
The only time the crowd came alive was in the bottom of the third, when the Clones were able to load the bases. With the Brooklyns already down 13–0, designated hitter Jeremy Hambrice blasted a ball toward the warning track in center field which, despite an unusual heavy wind blowing out, died in the glove of the fast-moving Wilkens DeLaRosa.
But the crowd really started heading for the exits after the Clones stranded two more runners in the fourth (they left 13 on the night) thanks to a bases-loaded round-the-horn double play.
And just in time. In the top of the fifth, with runners at first and second and Larsen again chomping at the bit in the on-deck circle, Cyclones hurler Eric Domangue threw an inside fastball that nailed home plate umpire Jeremy Crowe, resulting in an excruciating 26-minute delay as Crowe was checked out by team doctors. When it was determined that he couldn’t continue, Staten Islander and Cyclones employee Freddie Dejesus, the emergency backup for the night, sprung into action, taking the field umpiring position for the remainder of the game.
The Yankees scored at least one run in the first seven innings before Clones reliever Nick Abel was able to shut them down for the final two innings of play.
“We made some good pitches early, but then we didn’t finish the batters off,” said first-year Cyclones manager George Greer. “We left the ball up, and if you leave the ball up — whatever level you’re playing — you’re going to get hurt. And we got hurt with pitches up in the zone.”
The Cyclones last hope of scoring even one run was dashed in the bottom of the ninth when, after a leadoff walk to Tim Grogan, Jesus Gamero smashed a ball toward the hole between shortstop Mitch Hilligoss and second base. Hilligoss speared the ball with a dive, and fired to Larsen, who caught Grogan off first. Dustin Martin then struck out to end the game.
Cyclones starter Jorge Reyes was tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs (six earned) in just 1.1 innings of work.
Jonathan Castillo then got battered for seven runs (four earned) in 2.2 innings, and Domangue was slapped around for four runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings.
To add insult to injury, the Clones dropped Game 2 on Staten Island on Wednesday night — blowing a five-run lead in the eighth inning before finally losing 8–7.
June 24, 2006 issue