Local Pitcher Frank Valentino Hurls Cyclones to 9-0 Win Over Mahoning Valley

By Jerry Del Priore

Starting pitcher Frank Valentino tossed six brilliant scoreless innings and the Brooklyn Cyclones’ offense exploded for 14 hits en route to a 9-0 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Wednesday night at MCU Park. 

Valentino (1-1), who hails from West Islip, Long Island, permitted just two hits while whiffing seven batters in his first win in affiliated baseball. A lifelong New York Mets fan, he had pitched in independent ball for the Pacific Association Vallejo Admirals in 2018 and posted a 2.10 ERA in eight starts this season with Florence of the Frontier League before New York signed him in late June. 

Infielder Branden Fryman, son of former major league standout Travis Fryman, led the offensive attack for Brooklyn, going 4-5 with a double and two RBI. He banged a run-scoring double in the Cyclones’ four-run sixth and added an RBI single in the eighth to extend the lead to 9-0.

Outfielder Jake Mangum roped two hits in the game, including an RBI triple in the eighth.

Slugging first baseman Joe Genord began the festivities with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, while infielder Wilmer Reyes added a run-scoring single in the third to make it 3-0.

Added Note: Brooklyn was off and running, stealing a season-high four bases in the lopsided win. 

Watch Joe Genord’s first-inning sack fly.