In their opening series of the year, the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets A affiliate) took two of three games from the Staten Island Yankees (Yankees A affiliate). The two teams are the only two minor league teams in New York City.

Game 1: The Mets won 3-1, with Pedro P. Martinez starting the game for the Cyclones, throwing 4.1 innings, only allowing one run and it was unearned. The bullpen finished it off without allowing any runs, with Jimmy Johnson registering the win, while Wendy Rosa got a hold and Yury Santana threw a perfect ninth for the first save of the season. Offensively, the star was 3B Zachary Lutz, who hit a double and was 1-3 with two of the Mets three RBIs. The Mets drafted Lutz with the 183 overall, fifth round, pick in the 2007 amateur draft. For a full boxscore, go to the Cyclones official website.

Game 2: The Mets won game 9-4, led by SP Tim Strontach who allowed one unearned run through five innings of work. The bullpen was less stable, allowing three runs to cross home but it was finished nicely with a two inning save by Rhiner Cruz. Again, Zach Lutz was the offensive stud. He was 2-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored and two doubles. He also walked twice. For the entire box score, go to the Cyclones official website.

Game 3: The Mets failed to prevail in this game, with the Cyclones losing 7-2. The true highlight of this game was watching pitcher Pat Venditte face off against a switch-hitter on the Cyclones, Ralph Henriquez. The unusual circumstances stemmed from the fact that Venditte is a switch pitcher, so he and Henriquez played a long game of cat and mouse. Henriquez would stand on one side of the plate, and Venditte would choose which hand to throw with, and then Henriquez would switch sides again. To watch the video, head over to Gary Grund’s post here on Hot Foot. While they only scored two runs in the game, Zach Lutz shined again by going 2-4. For a full box score, go over to the Cyclones official website.

It’s always nice to beat the Yankees, whether the victory is big or small, minor or major leagued.

The Zach Lutz fellow is certainly mashing to begin the year, and was a fifth round draft pick so he is somebody to definitely keep an eye on. Somehow I don’t see him being a 3B for the Mets though…we have somebody there, right?