BROOKLYN, NY - It may have been just a freak coincidence that it was Pirate Night at Keyspan Park, but the Brooklyn Cyclones weren't taking chances. Not only did they pillage the Aberdeen IronBirds pitching staff, amassing 15 hits, they also plundered their offense, limiting the Baltimore Single-A affiliate to only three hits in a 4-2 win.

The Cyclones cause was also aided by two new swashbucklers on board for last night's game. Mets right fielder Ryan Church was in the lineup on a rehab assignment with the Mets and Ike Davis, the team's first pick in this year's draft, made his pro debut. Combining for four hits and two runs, the duo provided a huge lift to an offense in desperate need of one.

“I don't think we've had this many hits in our last 10 games combined,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo, jokingly. “I'm really excited about our offense now. Church got our offense rolling and because of that, we were able to manufacture some runs.”

While Church was perhaps the biggest offensive star of the night, it was Josh Satin who got the Mets Single-A affiliate on the board in the second with an RBI single, scoring Davis, who doubled off the left field wall in his first professional at bat. Continuing to put runs on the board in the third, Church, who singled in his first at bat off Aberdeen starter Aaron Odom, doubled home John Servidio, who led off the inning with a two bagger of his own, stretching the lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, an Eric Campbell single scored Church, as the Baby Mets had a three-run lead and showed signs of pulling away early.

“It was a great feeling,” said Davis about his first professional hit. “It could have went over the wall though.”

Mets Supplemental pick Brad Holt made his first start in Brooklyn this season, after losing his first pro start against the very same IronBirds on June 21. Throwing no-hit ball through the game's first five innings, Holt looked like a different pitcher from the one who allowed two runs in 2.1 innings in his last start.

“I was able to locate,” said Holt, who also had six strikeouts. “I mixed the changeup in and my breaking ball started off strong. I was excited because this was my first home start. I had a lot of adrenaline going. After the first inning, I was pretty sure it was going to be a good night.”

The Cyclones offense, like their starting pitcher, looked rejuvenated as well. After a Church single, his third hit of the night, the Clones continued to bat around, as Campbell added another RBI single, giving Brooklyn a four-run cushion.

Holt came out of the game in the sixth without giving up a hit, but reliever Brandon Moore wasn't nearly as solid. After giving up a solo homer to the first hitter he faced, Eric Perlozzo, Moore couldn't retire the next three hitters, leaving the game with the bases loaded.

Montero Cruz came out of the Brooklyn bullpen to try and clean up Moore's mess, but was also ineffective, hitting Tyler Kolodny and sending another run home. However, Cruz suddenly found his control after the bean ball and struck out the next hitter he faced. Matias Carrillo then replaced Cruz and struck out the next two Aberdeen hitters he danced with, keeping the score at 4-2.

Carrillo kept the score deadlocked into the eighth, before being replaced by Yury Santana with two outs and runners on first and second. Striking out the first hitter he faced, Santana blanked the IronBirds in the ninth, earning his league-leading fourth save and giving the Clones their fifth win of the season.

Now back at .500 after being swept on the road by Hudson Valley earlier in the week, the Clones look to continue their winning ways and keep the hot bats rolling.

“I feel really good about this team,” Alfonzo. “I've been waiting for something like this.”

Notes:

After a conversation with Omar Minaya, Church, who left the game after his third at bat in the fifth, expects to be in the lineup tomorrow against the IronBirds.

After the game, Alfonzo however didn't know what his status was.

“Tomorrow, Omar [Minaya] or Tony [Bernazard] are going to call me,” he said. “And let me know if he's going to stay here or go back to the big club. Right now, I don't know.”

Alfonzo also said that he expects the Mets other first round pick, Reese Havens, back sometime next week.

“With these guys together, we'll have a different look,” he said, in regards to having Zach Lutz [who was seen icing his injured right ankle and noticeably limping in the clubhouse after the game], Davis and Havens in the lineup at the same time. “I can't wait to have all of them together.”

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