Cyclones Walk-Off to Claim NYPL Semis Over Hudson Valley, 4-3

By Jerry Del Priore 

 

 

In a deciding New York-Penn League (NYPL) semifinals series Game Three between the Brooklyn Cyclones and Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa), the Cyclones delivered the decisive blow when outfielder Ranfy Adon doubled over right fielder Hill Alexander’s head to score infielder Yoel Romero from second in the ninth inning for the 4-3 walk-off victory. 

For the first time since 2010, the Cyclones, the short-season Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will play for the NYPL Championship. Brooklyn will face either the Lowell Spinners or Batavia Muckdogs on the road before returning to MCU Park on Monday and Tuesday for Game Two and Game Three (if necessary). 

Adon smacked a dinger in the bottom of the third that sliced the gap to 3-2. All-Star shortstop Wilmer Reyes went 4-4 in the tilt. Romero posted a 1-2 line with a run scored and two bases on balls. 

But it was the Cyclones’ bullpen that kept them in the game. Nick MacDonald, throwing harder than usual, tossed two innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts and zero walks. 

Then, Brooklyn reliever Andrew Edwards, who earned the win, entered the game and fired two more scoreless innings of relief. The southpaw recorded five of six outs by way of the strikeout. Edwards’ last 14 of 13 batters retired have come via the whiff.