Yanks clinch McNamara Division with 2-1 win over Cyclones

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The Staten Island Yankees (45-29) clinched the McNamara Division in a rain-shortened 2-1 win over division rival the Brooklyn Cyclones (24-51).
"Feels good, the boys have worked hard the whole year," said Staten Island manager Julio Mosquera. "They deserve it. They played tremendous baseball the whole season."
The rain played a factor in three of the last five Baby Bombers' games. For the second straight home game, Staten Island's game has been cut short due to rain. Even still, the Yankees were able to hold the lead before the rain delay began.
"It's always tough when there is so much rain," Mosquera said. "That's not what we do in baseball, it's a dry game. You have to adjust to it."
 
After Tuesday's game against Aberdeen was postponed Juan De Paula's (W, 5-5) start was pushed back against the Cyclones. De Paula was firing strikes from pitch number one, striking out three of the first four batters in the ball game. De Paula picked up the win, throwing five innings allowing just two hits, one run, three walks, and five strikeouts.
 
"We took advantage of the mistakes," Mosquera said. "They gave us a chance, and we took advantage. De Paula did a tremendous job keeping us in the game. It was fun to watch."
Staten Island scored both runs on ground outs. Two wild pitches advanced two runners to third in the fourth inning. Both men would come home to score on Timmy Robinson and Kendall Coleman RBI ground outs.
"We're just going to take it one day at a time, keep playing the same baseball we have been playing all year," Mosquera said. "It's still the same game one day at a time, one at bat at a time, one pitch at a time."
Staten Island is headed to the playoffs for the third straight season. The Baby Bombers have won six championships, the most in the New York-Penn League. Staten Island will host Game 2 of the NYPL Semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 10, with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. The Yankees' opponent has yet to be determined as the Baby Bombers conclude the regular season at Brooklyn on Thursday night. The New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard will take the mound against Staten Island.