Bradenton Sends Brevard County To Third Straight Loss

By  //  July 12, 2012

Gagnon Pitches Well Again

BRADENTON, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees opened up an eight-game road trip on the wrong foot as they fell 5-2 to the Bradenton Marauders on Wednesday night at McKechnie Field.

Drew Gagnon pitched his third consecutive quality start for Brevard County against Bradenton on Wednesday. (Image courtesy Brevard County Manatees)

The game was tied 2-2 after seven innings, but the Marauders scored three runs – all with two outs – in the bottom of the eighth inning off pitcher Eric Marzec, en route to handing the ‘Tees their third consecutive loss.

Drew Gagnon (0-0, 2.41) got the start for Brevard (10-9 second half, 39-48 overall) and went 6.2 innings while allowed two runs. He scattered four hits, walked three and fanned three as he recorded his third quality start in as many outings with the Manatees.

Gagnon and the ‘Tees fell behind early as a two-out RBI double by Alex Dickerson in the bottom of the first gave Bradenton (12-8, 41-49) a 1-0 lead. Brevard would get that run back right away in the top of the second, thanks to a two-out solo homer by Parker Berberet.

Marauders starter Colton Cain was able to hold the ‘Tees in check for the next few innings, but Brevard broke through against the southpaw, to break the 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth. Brock Kjeldgaard led the frame off with a double to right field. He would move to third on a groundout by Cody Hawn and was driven in one batter later on a sacrifice fly by Hector Gomez.

In Control

Gagnon was on cruise control as he retired 17 of the next 18 batters he faced from the second inning until the seventh inning with two outs. That’s where he would run into trouble, as he allowed back-to-back singles to Carlos Paulino and Justin Howard to put runners on the corners.

Then with Carlos Mesa at the plate, the Marauders were able to pull off a successful double steal as Howard stole second and Paulino stole home on the throw down by Berberet to second. Gagnon would go on to walk Mesa and would then be lifted for Marzec as the game was now tied at 2-2. Marzec was able to strikeout Andy Vasquez looking to end the inning.

Jason Rogers led off the top of the eighth with a double to left, but the Manatees were unable to do anything with it as they proceeded to go down in order. Rogers was 3-for-4 on the night and is hitting .500 (12-for-24) on the road. He also has six multi-hit games in his first 19 contests with Brevard.

Unraveling

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Marzec allowed a triple to Dan Grovatt. After striking out Gift Ngoepe, Mel Rojas would reach on a bobbled ball by Cody Hawn at first as Grovatt scored to give the Marauders a 3-2 lead. Dickerson then singled to center to put runners on first and second.

Paulino and Howard then hit back-to-back RBI singles to give Bradenton a 5-2 advantage. The inning ended with Paulino getting thrown out at third on a relay throw by Reggie Keen.

Brevard had one last chance in the ninth as Mike Walker led off the inning with a walk; but Berberet grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and then Shea Vucinich flew out to second to end the game.

The Manatees own the worst road record in the Florida State League as they are just 12-27 away from Space Coast Stadium.

Brevard will look to snap its three-game skid on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., in the second game of their four-game set with Bradenton.

Taylor Jungmann (7-4, 3.35) will get the ball for the Manatees as he looks to win his third consecutive decision. In his last six starts, which coincidentally started with a win over Bradenton, the 2011 first round pick is 6-0 with a 2.18 ERA.

The Marauders will counter with Tyler Waldron (5-6, 5.40). Waldron is 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA in four second half starts.