BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The 1,546 fans who purchased a ticket to the Brooklyn Cyclones’ game against the Aberdeen Ironbirds on Tuesday night figured they would watch something special occur with Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez continuing his rehab assignment with the club. What they did not anticipate was being witnesses to history as three Cyclones pitchers combined to toss the franchise’s first nine-inning no-hitter in a 3-0 victory.
Cyclones pitcher Dakota Hawkins entered the game, making his second start of the season, and felt confident warming up in the bullpen. Confidence quickly turned to relief when Stanley Consuegra leaped to snare a potential extra-base hit in right field by leadoff hitter Enrique Bradfield Jr. Hawkins regained his composure and went through the Aberdeen lineup with ease, pitching five hitless innings, allowing just one walk and facing the minimum.
“It is so special, for sure. You see stuff like this happen in the bigs, and you dream of being a part of it,” Hawkins said. “I showed up at the park today to try to put my best out there and after nine innings, we did it, and it was something special for sure.
“I was focusing on pounding the zone, and they (Aberdeen) were getting themselves out, so you have to take what you can get on the mound. Consuegra’s play was something special. I didn’t throw a great pitch and Bradfield Jr. puts a good swing on it, hits it well, and Stanley makes a great play. You just have a lot of trust in your defense.”
Hawkins and relievers Joey Lancelotti and Joshua Cornielly also benefited from Alvarez’s presence and leadership. Alvarez called a sound game behind the plate and helped his pitching staff navigate through the Aberdeen lineup. Alvarez’s big-league experience and trust in his teammates resulted in quick innings and a growing determination in their abilities entering the game’s latter innings.
“It is special for sure having someone like Alvarez that has not only played at the highest level but succeeded there,” Hawkins said. “It helps boost your confidence on the mound, and he called a great game behind the plate. “He wanted us to do our typical thing, which is throw strikes and stay ahead in the count, and that is how things played out today.”
Lancelotti and Cornielly combined to allow just two walks and struck out four in four innings of relief. Brooklyn’s defense continued to ensure the no-hitter remained intact when Consuegra made another leaping catch in the sixth inning against Aberdeen catcher Adam Retzbach that mirrored his play in the first inning. Aberdeen threatened again in the seventh inning when shortstop William Lugo narrowly threw out Tavian Josenberger at first base on a ball up the middle.
Hawkins and his teammates began to sense the possibility of attaining history as the game progressed. Their feelings became official once Elio Prado grounded out to Lugo in the ninth inning for the final out of the no-hitter. The combined effort was the second no-hit bid in Brooklyn Cyclones history, joining Brandon Moore’s seven-inning no-hitter against Aberdeen in 2009.
“I started to think about the no-hitter after I was pulled after the fifth inning,” Hawkins said. “You still see that zero on the board and everybody is on edge once you get to the ninth until it happens. I had a lot of trust and faith in our bullpen and (knew) if I give them what I can, they will finish the game for me. Everyone thinks about throwing perfect games and no-hitters and to be able to be a part of one, our first nine inning one is something I will always remember.”
