The Brooklyn Cyclones emerged victorious in Game 1 of the SAL Championship Series, defeating the Hub City Spartenburgers 13-1. With a win on Tuesday, the Cyclones will clinch their first SAL Championship and third championship overall. The Cyclones erupted for an eight-run fifth against the Rangers’ High-A affiliate.

After an injury marred Noah Hall‘s 2024 campaign, Cyclones’ skipper Gilbert Gomez tabbed the right-hander to start Brooklyn’s 2025 championship series. The right-hander rose to the occasion, giving up one run over 4.1 effective innings of work.

Gomez talked about the importance of his ace’s health this season, effusing praise on the right-hander postgame:

He had a great year in terms of health. We wanted to see him healthy… We’re happy with the fact that he took the ball every fifth day

His afternoon started on an auspicious note, ringing up 1B Antonio Macias on a backwards K. After the next two Spartanburgers reached base, Hall buckled down, limiting the damage to a single run.

The home team tied the game in the bottom half of the frame and never looked back, laboring Burgers’ southpaw Dalton Pence. Marco Vargas kicked off his strong afternoon with a leadoff knock to left-fielder Casey Cook. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Yohairo Cuevas drove him in four batters later.

The deciding blow came in the following frame. While Hall recovered from his first-inning jitters by retiring the Burgers 1-2-3 on three fly-balls, each to a different outfielder, four of his five Cyclones to face Pence reached base. Diego Mosquera kick-started the rally with a 10-pitch walk. After a Marco Vargas single pushed the second-sacker to second base, Yontan Henríquez provided all the offense necessary by depositing Pence’s pitch over the left field wall at 100 mph.

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The home run was a capstone of a successful postseason for switch-hitter Henríquez. He tallied five RBIs, a season-high for any Cyclone batter in 2025. Henríquez was a member of Brooklyn’s formidable offensive postseason trio, a group that terrorized opponents at the dish and on the bases this postseason. Marco Vargas, Henríquez, and Matt Rudick have combined for 14-for-27 in their last two games, contributing 19 total bases and nabbing six stolen bases.

Meanwhile, on the mound, No.44 danced his way in and out of trouble throughout the afternoon.

Hall sat in the mid-90s through his outing, mixing in his trademark high-spin change-up with a sweeper and cutter. He induced seven fly-ball outs, playing to the strengths of his wind-impacted home ballpark. Although the Burgers loaded their lineup with lefties, Hall’s negligible platoon negated any potential advantage.

The USC product served as the ace of the Cyclones’ rotation throughout the season, pitching to a 2.72 ERA/3.91 FIP over 21 starts. Hall placed second in the South Atlantic League in both ERA and batting average against (.200). After serving as Brooklyn’s Opening Day Starter in 2024, Hall received the honor, yet again in 2025.

At the outset of the campaign, Hall sat down with MMO, noting that he was finally excited for a healthy season

“I just want to finish the rest of the season, make every start that I can and stay healthy,” Hall said. “I feel like, as long as I do that and continue to get better, I feel like real soon I’ll be able to make my debut. Whenever that time comes, and whenever I feel like I’m ready and the Mets are ready — I’ve just gotta keep working and stay healthy.”

After Hall departed, the Mets’ offense came to life. They batted around, plus more, during an eight-run fifth. Hub City’s trio of pitchers struggled to find the strike zone, and the Cyclones capitalized. The team combined for four hits, five walks, two hit-by-pitches, and a stolen base. It was the fifth time this season that Brooklyn scored more than 10 runs.

Ronald Hernandez kick-started the rally with a single and later came around to score on Trace Wilhoite’s ribbie single. The merry-go-round continued for an eternity for the smattering of the Hub City fans filling the seats in Maimodes Park.

The next game of the series takes place on Tuesday, 9/16 at 6:35 pm at Fifth Third Ballpark in South Carolina. With a win, they will win the first SAL Championship. Franklin Gomez gets the nod.