Manatees Upend Lakeland Behind Hall’s Pitching

By  //  April 12, 2013

Brevard Prevails 2-0 At Home

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Wins are credited to a pitcher of record in every game, but not always earned. On Thursday night, Brevard County Manatees starting pitcher Brooks Hall truly earned the victory as he needed only 72 pitches to get through seven scoreless frames in a 2-0 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Space Coast Stadium.

Brevard County pitcher Brooks Hall earned his first win of the season as the Manatees defeated Lakeland 2-0 in Viera on Thursday. (Image courtesy of Brevard County Manatees)

Hall (1-1, 1.64) scattered four hits, walked two and fanned six on the night. Mark Williams and Seth Harvey came on behind Hall to close it out, with Harvey earning his third save in three opportunities.

It was the first home win for Brevard County (4-3) this season and though the two runs were the first two scored by the ‘Tees at Space Coast Stadium, they were just enough. The Flying Tigers’ (2-4) defense had committed a league-high 12 errors on the season entering play on Thursday and added to that with three more defensive miscues.

Lakeland’s first error came in the bottom of the fifth, when Eugenio Suarez had a tough grounder go off the end of his glove to end a perfect game for Drew VerHagen. In the sixth, Dionis Hinojosa took the only walk issued by VerHagen on the evening, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw by catcher John Murrian.

Hinojosa crossed the plate on Chadwin Stang’s sacrifice fly before Gregory Hopkins reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jason King. Nick Ramirez smashed his third extra-base hit in as many games – a double – to drive home Hopkins for the second run.

VerHagen took the hard-luck loss with both runs being recorded as unearned as he allowed only one hit and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings of work.

The Manatees continue the homestand tomorrow against the Clearwater Threshers (4-3).

David Goforth (0-0, 0.00) will make his second start of the season after throwing five scoreless innings in his first start this past Sunday. He will be opposed by southpaw Ethan Stewart (0-0, 6.75 ERA) for Clearwater.