Manatees Rally To Nail Hammerheads
By Brevard County Manatees // July 31, 2012
Williamson Takes Mound Tonight
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the eighth inning and went on to defeat the Jupiter Hammerheads, 5-4 in 11 innings on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium.
Jason Rogers tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the eighth on an 0-1 pitch that he deposited over the left center field fence for a two-run homer. Casey Medlen came in and retired Jupiter in order in the top of the ninth as the ‘Tees (21-17 second half, 50-56 overall) had a chance to win it in the bottom of the frame.
A one-out single by John Dishon put the winning run on base and then with Reggie Keen at the plate, Dishon took second on a wild pitch and then stole third to put the winning run 90 feet away. Keen would fly out to right field but not deep enough for Dishon to tag. Nick Shaw then stepped in and lofted a pitch to left field that looked like it may fall for the game-winning hit but Dallas Poulk made a diving catch to send the game into extras.
Medlen came back out for the tenth and after getting Terrence Dayleg to fly out, Poulk singled to left and then Marcell Ozuna drew a walk to put runners on first and second with just one out. 2010 first round pick Christian Yelich then stepped in with a chance to give Jupiter (17-19, 53-53) the lead, but Medlen would get him to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and the inning.
Brevard went down in order in the bottom of the tenth and then Greg Holle came on to face the Hammerheads in the top of the 11th. After allowing Mark Canha to lead off the inning with a single, Holle would also benefit from the double play as he forced Ryan Fisher to ground into the 6-4-3 double play. Holle would then retire Jacob Realmuto to end the frame.
A one-out single by Parker Berberet put the winning run on board for the ‘Tees and then two batters later with two outs, Dishon walked to put runners on first and second. Keen then stepped in and worked a 3-2 count against Jupiter reliever Tyler Higgins, who was in his third inning of work.
Keen would then hit a ball sharply to the hole that the shortstop Dayleg was able to get to, but Keen beat the throw that ended up in the dirt. All the meanwhile, Berberet kept on running and was able to score thanks to the Dayleg error as the Manatees won the series opener.
Drew Gagnon (0-1, 3.50) got the starting nod on the hill for the ‘Tees and tossed his fourth quality outing in six starts with Brevard County. Gagnon allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits, while fanning four and walking one in seven innings of work.
Brevard County and Jupiter will continue their four-game set on Tuesday night beginning at 6:35 p.m. Brandon Williamson (2-8, 6.64) will toe the rubber for the Manatees, while Jose Fernandez (2-1, 3.60) will get the ball for the Hammerheads.
