Road trip takes it toll as Cyclones lose first to Yanks
“Our pitching staff has been lights out for us and has carried the team,” said Cyclone first baseman Jeff Diehl after a recent 6-3 Cyclone win over Hudson Valley. But sooner or later, the Cyclones’ lead on first place had to slip with the team’s offense hovering at the bottom of the league.
After completing a 1-5 six game road trip to Lowell and Burlington last week, the Cyclones finally surrendered first place to Staten Island as the Yankees beat up the division’s last place Hudson Valley Renegades. With the 25-22 Yankees surging to first place in the McNamara Division, the 24-24 Cyclones have dropped to second place, 1.5 games behind Staten Island.
In addition to a divisional race and a local rivalry, the minor league experience gives the fan bragging rights to say, “I saw him back when.” Such was the case for last season’s standout Cyclone first round draft pick Michael Conforto, who after his recent July call-up from Double-A Binghamton has provided the New York Mets some much-needed offense and defense in left field.