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Cyclones still chasing Iron Birds for first, as season winds down with final home stand

August 26, 2013 Jim Dolan

Photos courtesy of Jim Dolan

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Right after the re-dedication of the Pee Wee Reese Jackie Robinson statue outside of MCU Park, the Cyclones finally got to play their originally scheduled home opener with the Staten Island Yankees that was rained out opening day as part of a doubleheader.

Getting a spot start for the Cyclones was right-handed pitcher Akeel Morris who normally pitches out the bullpen. Pitching for five innings of a scheduled seven-inning game (minor league doubleheader rules), Morris gave up no runs on five hits and struck out five to increase his overall season total to 52 strikeouts over 38.1 innings.

Keeping suspense in that game as so many Cyclone games have this season, Staten Island came close to tying the game as Jared King showed his value on defense with one out in the ninth inning with a runner on third.

Showing off his accurate arm, King gunned down the tagged-up Yankee runner at home for the final out and another close 3-2 Cyclone win. In the following nights game, it would be King that would break up a seven-inning Yankee no-hitter on a single to center and would score one of the runs on a four-hit two-run rally for the 2-0 win.

After returning to the lineup from a pulled rib muscle a week ago, left fielder Jared King has played a key role in Brooklyns pennant race as the Kansas State product has played spectacular defense chasing down fly balls at the warning track and getting on base to score much-needed runs for the Cyclones inconsistent offense.

However by the end of last week, the last place Yankees would prevail over the Cyclones, winning three games out of the five-game series to keep Brooklyn (31-31) from advancing any further than second place, just a game and a half in back of the first place 31-28 Aberdeen Iron Birds.

With the final week and a half of the season left to play, the Cyclones must really show that they can take their division to finish the season with a spot for the playoffs. After a three-game series in Vermont, the Cyclones still have series with division rivals the persistent Yankees and the first place Aberdeen Iron Birds.