Staten Island 2, Brooklyn 1
For the first time since 2006, the Cyclones lost on Opening Day, falling at the hands of the Staten Island Yankees by the score of 2-1 on Monday evening at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. RHP Robert Gsellman was the hard luck loser after allowing two unearned runs over 5.0 innings, scattering a walk and four hits while striking out a pair. Offensively, James Roche provided the lone offensive bright spot connecting on a solo home run to account for the lone Cyclones run of the game.
After the Cyclones and Yankees went in order through the first inning, it was the Yankees who would strike first in the bottom of the second. A pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for the Baby Bombers with one out against Gsellman. But the righthander seemed like he would be able to work his way out of trouble after he got Bubba Jones to pop up on the infield for the second out, and induced a groundball to third base from Francisco Rosario. Brooklyn third baseman Anthony Chavez barehanded the weakly hit grounder, but his throw to first sailed down the right field line, allowing a pair of runs to score, and give Staten Island a 2-0 advantage.
That seemed like it would be more than enough offense, as Staten Island starter was mowing down the Brooklyn bats. The righthander retired the first 10 batters he faced before L.J. Mazzilli connected on the first hit of his professional career, and of the 2013 Cyclones season, with a line drive single to centerfield with one out in the fourth inning.
An inning later, Brooklyn mounted their first threat when Jorge Rivero singled and tried to advance to third base on a single off the bat of Roche, but was gunned down by Staten Island centerfielder Brandon Thomas to squash the threat.
The Cyclones mounted another rally in the sixth inning, after Eris Peguero and Mazzilli connected on a pair of one-out singles and both runners moved into scoring position following a wild pitch, Gavin Cecchini and Matt Oberste were both retired as Charles Basford was able to wiggle out of trouble for the Yankees.
The lone offensive tally for Brooklyn came in the top of the 7th inning when James Roche sent a 1-1 offering over the rightfield wall to slice the deficit to 2-1, but that is how the game would come to an end.
The Cyclones return to action on Tuesday evening for their home opener against the same Staten Island Yankees at 7:00 PM.
Key Stats
L.J. Mazzilli: 2-for-4
Jorge Rivero: 2-for-4
James Roche: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 R
Robert Gsellman: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 K
Shane Bay: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 2 K
Akeel Morris: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
(Team Report)