Game 1: Auburn 7 – Brooklyn 1
W: Kyle Walter: 5 IP, H, 3 BB, 3 K
L: Stephen Clyne: 1 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K, Blown Save
Not so coincidentally, this series featured the league leaders in team earned average. Brooklyn (2.93 team ERA) and Auburn (3.44 ERA) were also atop the team leaders in earned runs allowed. Needless to say, it appeared like this would be a pitcher’s duel to the end.
In the series opener, the Cyclones sent Dillon Gee to the mound to get things started. Gee, who had not pitched since September 6 when he gave up two earned runs in six innings, has been a weapon for his squad in his rookie season. He quickly went to work chopping down the Doubledays order.
Through five innings Gee mowed down hitters, registering eight strikeouts while giving up just four hits; only one Auburn hitter did not strikeout. Auburn starter Chi-Hung Heung last just two innings before he turned the game over to Kyle Walter who matched
Gee virtually batter-to-batter, pitch-to-pitch.
However, in the sixth inning manager Edgar Alfonzo went to another high round draft pick, Stephen Clyne, to continue the shutout, but the wheels quickly fell off. Clyne, who pitched two scoreless innings and picked up the win in Game 1 versus Staten Island, gave up a lead-off double to Auburn centerfielder Adam Calderone who scored on a single by Manuel Rodriguez. Light-hitting Bradley Emaus came up next and cranked a two-run home run off Clyne, spotting his team the lead.
Events only unraveled further in the eighth inning with Will Morgan on the mound. Morgan, who had allowed only one earned run in his previous five appearances and finished the year with a 2.02 ERA in 22 games, gave up a run to Luis Sanchez via the walk, which was then followed by Benjamin Zeskind’s two-run double. By the end of the inning, the game was blown wide open to a 7-1 difference.
Due in large part to their superb pitching, the Cyclones very infrequently found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard during the season, and because of that, they were not experienced in coming back from behind. The result was the six-run loss in the series opening contest as they headed home to KeySpan Park.
Game 2: Auburn 4 – Brooklyn 1
W: Brett Cecil: 7 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 8 K
L: Michael Antonini: 6 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K
In Game 2, the Cyclones turned to Antonini to get the team rebounded in order to tie the series. Antonini, not an overly hard thrower, can navigate his way through lineups, which is why he may have received the nod after making just two starts with Brooklyn during the regular season. However, the decision may have been a precarious one after the southpaw was roughed up for four earned runs on seven hits in four innings in a no-decision against Staten Island in Game 1.
Micah Schilling starting things quickly in the bottom of the first when he cracked a lead-off home run, only his second round-tripper of the season.
Antonini appeared to be on cruise control until trouble once again found him in the fifth inning. After giving up just one hit through the first four innings, J.P. Arencibia redirected Antonini’s offering for a two-run shot. The Brooklyn left-hander got out of the inning but fell victim to another two-run home run in the sixth inning, this time to rookie second baseman Darin Mastroianni. The 4-1 lead would prove to be enough for the Doubledays.
Auburn’s All-Star hurler Brett Cecil went deeper in Game 2 than any previous start of the season, shutting down the Cyclones for seven strong innings and striking out eight hitters.
Brant Rustich and Eddie Kunz replaced Antonini for their second and third post-season appearances respectively, each logging perfect appearances.
It was the first NY-Penn League Championship berth for the Cyclones since 2001 when they were crowned co-champions in the terminated series. Edgar Alfonzo has been the manager on both of those squads.
The Cyclones struck out 25 times in the two games against seven walks. The Cyclones had just two extra base hits in the series.