After the Cyclones’ close 1-0 win over the Lowell Spinners, Cyclone Manager Edgardo Alfonzo toyed with the media after improving the team’s record to 8-2 to maintain first place over the second place 7-3 Hudson Valley Renegades in the McNamara Division.
Coyly asking, “What’s our record? Who’s in first place?” Fonzie emphasized the importance of good starting pitching in what he calls “a pitchers’ league.”
While the Spinners held the Cyclone lineup to just one run for the win, Fonzie praised the strong outing of Jaison Vilera who pitched six strong innings while striking out eight with two hits before leaving the game on his assigned 80-ball pitch count.
Fonzie maintained “As long as our pitchers throw strikes and get ahead in the count, our relievers can do the rest after five innings.”
Besides pitching, this season’s offense has come on strong and early as a pair of position players have also helped the team to a good start. First, Jose Brizuela has carried the team from the opening weekend, batting .341 with two home runs, while returning 2017 All Star Jose Miguel Medina has batted .383 in the lead-off position.
On their value to the team, Fonzie stated, “Brizuela is a veteran guy who just gets on base and can score runs. Medina’s been tremendous for us since we put him in the leadoff position.”
Comparing this team to last season’s, Fonzie explained that he can juggle his lineup many ways having a host of talented players on the club. “We’ve really got a flexible lineup, different from last year where we had only one lineup to put out there each night,” said the second year Brooklyn manager. “Additionally, this team is doing the little things right to win games.”
Fonzie sees a confidence building among his players, especially after a three-game sweep over the Connecticut Tigers. However that confidence will now be challenged as Hudson Valley has recently moved into first place with a 10-3 record as the 9-3 Cyclones are half a game behind the first place Renegades.