Fort Myers Halts Manatees Comeback
By Brevard County Manatees // July 27, 2012
Jungmann Goes For Ninth Win Tonight
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees allowed four runs in the second inning and were unable to complete a comeback as they were edged 4-3 by the Fort Myers Miracle at Hammond Stadium on Thursday night.
Brandon Williamson (2-8, 6.64) got the start for the ‘Tees (19-15 second half, 48-54 second half) and yielded five hits in six innings of work, while walking three and striking out four.
The trouble for Williamson and Brevard started with one out in the second as Josmil Pinto hit a solo homer to left to put Fort Myers (17-18, 45-57) on the board. After Steven Liddle walked, he preceded to steal second and then advance to third on a throwing error by catcher Brent Dean.
Daniel Rams then drew a walk and Liddle would be brought home one batter later on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Anderson Hidalgo. Jonathan Gonclaves kept the inning going with a base hit to left that put runners on first and second with two outs. The big blow then came off the bat of Daniel Santana as he tripled to center to clear the bases and give the Miracle a 4-0 lead.
Williamson’s biggest troubles have come in the second inning of games with the Manatees. In the second inning this season, he has a 13.14 ERA as he’s allowed 18 earned runs in 12.1 innings. Seth Harvey would relieve Williamson and throw two scoreless frames with two strikeouts to keep Brevard in the game.
Fort Myers starter Tom Stuifbergen held the ‘Tees scoreless through seven innings, while striking out seven. The Manatees though would get to Stuifbergen in the eighth.
Cody Hawn and Hector Gomez led off the inning with back-to-back doubles as Gomez’s double plated Hawn. Two batters later, John Dishon would bring home Gomez as he singled to center to make it a 4-2 game.
Stuifbergen was then lifted for Miguel Munoz and Munoz was able to prevent any other damage as he retired the last two hitters to end the inning.
With their last chance in the ninth, the ‘Tees didn’t go down without a fight as Jason Rogers led off the frame with a double to left. Rogers moved to third on a ground out by Mike Walker and would then score on a ground out by Brock Kjeldgaard to make it a 4-3 game.
Hawn then stepped in with two outs, representing the tying run but he was unable to extend the rally as he grounded out to first to end the game.
Brevard County and Fort Myers will continue their four-game set on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
Taylor Jungmann (8-5, 3.67) will get the ball for the Manatees, in search of his ninth win of the season and fourth in his last five starts. The 2011 first round pick has been solid so far in the second half of the season as he is 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA in his last five starts.
The Miracle will send Madison Boer (4-9, 6.99) to the hill. Boer is winless in his last four starts and in his only other start against the ‘Tees this season, he allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings of work.
