BROOKLYN, NY- Continuing to get offense from unlikely
sources, the Brooklyn Cyclones received a clutch two-RBI performance from Jason Jacobs, backing up another stellar pitching
performance by Jacob Ruckle, defeating the Staten Island Yankees 3-0.
Despite pitching solid in his last two starts against Staten Island and
Oneonta, Ruckle had yet to register a win and was eager to win his fourth game of the season, throwing perfect baseball through
3.2 innings before giving up a Kyle Larsen single in the fourth.
“I just tried to throw
strikes and change speeds,” said Ruckle. “My defense came through for me and Jason Jacobs called an incredible
game tonight.”
“He was lights out,”
said Jacobs. “He kept them guessing. We used a different pitch sequence every time a different hitter came up; he threw
all three pitches for strikes. You really couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Getting the start tonight for
the Yankees was James Conroy, looking to lower his ERA from 54.00 after only appearing in one game so far this season. Conroy,
like Ruckle was very efficient on the mound tonight, throwing shutout baseball before giving up a Jacobs home run in the fifth,
giving the Cyclones a 1-0 lead.
“I looked bad on the
fastball he threw me before and I was figuring he was going to come back with it. I think that was the first mistake that
guy [Conroy] made all night,” said Jacobs. “He pitched very well against us and I was fortunate to get some wood
on that pitch and it traveled.”
After Brooklyn
scored the game’s first run, the Yankees would attempt to strike back the next inning, getting infield singles from
Wilkens De La Rossa and Seth Fortenberry. However, Ruckle would regain his composure, striking out Wilmer Pino and would benefit
from great defense, getting the .331 hitting Mitch Hilligoss to ground out into an inning ending double play, keeping the
score at 1-0 through five innings.
Dustin Martin would add to
Brooklyn’s lead in the sixth, getting an RBI single that would send Joe Holden home, giving the Cyclones a 2-0 lead
and after a Jacobs sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, the Keyspan Park crowd was enjoying a 3-0 lead.
Cyclones manager George Greer
seemingly can’t say enough about how much Martin means to this team.
“He’s the straw
that stirs the drink,” said Greer. “He’s just been awesome for us.”
Ruckle continued to dominate
into the eighth, striking out a season high 10 batters and surrendering just four hits before being replaced by German Marte
in the ninth. Marte, who took Joe Smith’s number after he was called up to Binghamton, has pitched much like the former
Cyclones closer, twirling a scoreless frame and getting his first save of the season, giving Brooklyn a 3-0 win.
While Ruckle was overjoyed
with his performance tonight, he seemed more satisfied seeing his team with a two-game lead in the McNamara Division.
“It feels good to be
two games up and to beat the Yankees,” Ruckle said. “They have a tough lineup and great pitchers and we beat them,
we’re on a roll.”
