Cyclones Skip Defense 101 While Away At State College

Brooklyn Cyclones @ State College Spikes

June 29, 2016

Merandy Gonzalez @ Steven Farinaro

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11		R	H	E
Brooklyn	1	0	1	0	0	2	4	0	0	0	0		8	14	1
State College	5	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1		9	13	0

W: Wheatley (1-0, 0.00 ERA); L: Castro (1-1, 5.14 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Merandy Gonzalez (3.38 ERA) – 2 IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 2B, 1 HR, 11 TB, 3 BB, 1 K (0 K/Sw), 4 GB: 5 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 59 Pitches (33 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 9 Called, 1.7% SwStr, 4.2% Whiff/Swing, 29.5 Pitches/IP, 16 BF

Dillon Becker (3.00 ERA) – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 3 TB, 4 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB: 1 LD: 2 PU, 46 Pitches (23 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 7 Called, 8.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 23 Pitches/IP, 12 BF

Austin McGeorge (0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 1 FB, 12 Pitches (8 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 2 Called, 25% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 12 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Gary Cornish (0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB, 20 Pitches (12 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 3 Called, 20% SwStr, 44.4% Whiff/Swing, 20 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Gabriel Feliz (BS, 1, 1.35 ERA) – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 33 Pitches (23 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 6 Called, 18.2% SwStr, 35.3% Whiff/Swing, 16.5 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Joseph Zanghi (0.00 ERA) – 2 IP, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 3 FB: 1 LD, 32 Pitches (21 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 7 Called, 9.4% SwStr, 21.4% Whiff/Swing, 16 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Alejandro Castro (L, 1-1, 5.14 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 TB, 3 GB: 1 LD, 13 Pitches (9 Strikes), 1 Called, 5 BF

Batters

LF - Gene Cone - 2-5, 1 R, 1 BB, 3.33 Pitches/PA

CF - Jacob Zanon - 1-4, 2 BB, 3.2% SwStr, 9.1% Whiff/Swing, 5.17 Pitches/PA

DH - Jay Jabs - 2-6, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 9.4% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 5.33 Pitches/PA

SS - Colby Woodmansee - 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, 18.5% SwStr, 41.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

3B - Blake Tiberi - 2-4, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 CS, 4.83 Pitches/PA

C - Brandon Brosher - 3-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 16% SwStr, 36.4% Whiff/Swing, 4.17 Pitches/PA

RF - Arnaldo Berrios - 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SAC, 1 CS, 6.7% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The final line will say that the Brooklyn Cyclones committed just one error in their loss against State College Wednesday night, but there were multiple other defensive miscues that opened the door for the Spikes early runs. The Cyclones were able to battle back and momentarily had the upper hand after Brandon Brosher hit a grand slam in the 7^th. Unfortunately that lead didn’t last long, which left Brooklyn playing extra inning baseball for the fifth time already in 13 games. They managed a baserunner in both extra frames, but the Spikes struck first, winning on a walkoff HBP with the bases loaded – I think it looked like the batter moved his leg towards the pitch.

            The Cyclones jumped ahead 1-0 in the 1^st, though it should’ve been more. In total, they went 2-3 with 2 walks in the 1^st inning, but a double play and a runner thrown out at 3B cut short any rally.

Harol Gonzalez Shines In Win Over State College

Brooklyn Cyclones @ State College Spikes

June 28, 2016

Harol Gonzalez @ Carson Cross

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Brooklyn	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	0		6	12	0
State College	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1		2	5	2

W: Gonzalez (1-1, 2.55 ERA); L: Cross (1-1, 4.86 ERA)

Boxscore

Brooklyn starter Harol Gonzalez on the mound with Darryl Knight in the background

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Harol Gonzalez (W, 1-1, 2.55 ERA) – 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 TB, 1 BB, 10 K (8 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 8 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 84 Pitches (56 Strikes), 17 Swinging, 12 Called, 20.2% SwStr, 38.6% Whiff/Swing, 14 Pitches/IP, 21 BF

Taylor Henry (H, 1, 0.00 ERA) – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 2 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 16 Pitches (12 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 2 Called, 12.5% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 8 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Alejandro Castro (4.05 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 TB, 1 BB, 2 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 19 Pitches (7 Strikes), 19 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Batters

LF - Gene Cone - 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4 Pitches/PA

2B - Nick Sergakis - 1-5, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB, 6.2% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.2 Pitches/PA

CF - Jacob Zanon - 1-5, 1 K, 4.6 Pitches/PA

3B - Blake Tiberi - 1-5, 1 RBI, 11.1% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 1.8 Pitches/PA

1B - Darryl Knight - 1-5, 1 R, 2 K, 13.3% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

RF - Arnaldo Berrios - 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 K, 16.7% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 3.6 Pitches/PA

C - Brandon Brosher - 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 CS, 14.3% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

SS - Dale Burdick - 3-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 2.75 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Brooklyn Cyclones started their road trip on a high note Tuesday against State College, taking a 6-2 win behind starter Harol Gonzalez. The Cyclones third straight win pulled them back to .500 for the first time since opening day, as they now sit at 6-6, good for 2^nd place in their division.

Harol Gonzalez was absolutely filthy on the mound, allowing few balls out of the infield while finishing with 10 strikeouts over his 6 innings. Nothing was hit hard off him all game and he faced just four batters from the stretch. I don’t have a full velocity report, but the State College announcers were calling him from 90-95 with the heat, and he mixed in his changeup and curveball. They also had the following conversation about him after he finished the 3^rd inning:

1: “This guy is pretty good.”
2: “Yeah. Again, you gotta somehow deal some baserunners against this guy. I mean his control was completely different just to [Tommy] Edman.” (He issued a two out walk in the frame and was pitching from the stretch for the first time when he faced Edman)

1: “Yeah.”

2: “I’ll tell you what’s really good, his changeup is really good. Really good.”

1: “Yeah.”

2: “His Fastball topped out at 95. His changeup topped out at 87.”

1: “That’s pretty good, a distinctive gear down.”

2: “Yeah, but he threw also an 84, 85, 86 [changeup]…”

Another Undrafted College Pitcher Makes a Successful Pro Debut in the Mets System

Image from the original announcement

Signed after the draft, Faulkner’s closer Alejandro Castro threw a scoreless inning for the GCL Mets in his pro debut.

            As is often the case with undrafted free agents, the Mets signing of 22-year old Alejandro Castro went mostlyunreported, but is it possible they found another diamond in the rough? Per the Faulkner school site, Alejandro Castro was the school’s closer this past year, and he went 3-2, with 11 saves and a 1.60 ERA. His bio page is a little light, but his stat page shows that he finished with 27 K: 9 BB and a .221 average allowed over 39.1 IP (28 G). It looks like he helped his team to a #2 ranking in the NAIA World Series, but Faulkner would be eliminated one round shy of the finals.