Manatees Notch Third Straight Over Cards

By  //  May 23, 2013

Brent Suter runs record to 3-2, fans 6

Manatees starting pitcher Brent Suter fanned six hitters in six innings as Brevard County defeated the Palm Beach Cardinals, 4-2 on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)
Manatees starting pitcher Brent Suter fanned six hitters in six innings as Brevard County defeated the Palm Beach Cardinals, 4-2 on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – A pair of first inning homers helped the Brevard County Manatees to their third straight win over the Palm Beach Cardinals, 4-2 on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium.

After Manatees (25-20) starting pitcher Brent Suter (3-2, 3.23) allowed a run on two walks and a hit in the top of the first, the offense got behind him in the bottom of the inning.

T.J. Mittelstaedt
T.J. Mittelstaedt

Brevard’s second leadoff home run of the season came off the bat of T.J. Mittelstaedt as he took the 2-0 offering from Palm Beach (17-28) starter Scott Gorgen and blasted it over the right-center field wall. Later on in the frame with two outs and one on, Cody Hawn would blast his seventh homer of the season down the right field line to give the ‘Tees a 3-1 lead.

Following a rocky first inning, Suter would settle in and ended up allowing a total of five hits and three walks, while striking out six batters in six innings of work. He gave up just one run for the second consecutive outing.

MACIAS, MITTELSTAEDT CONTRIBUTE TWO HITS EACH

Brandon Macias led off the fifth inning with a double and then scored two batters later on a single from Mittelstaedt to push the lead to 4-1. Both Macias and Mittelstaedt had two hits each for the Manatees.

Brandon Macias
Brandon Macias

Palm Beach made it interesting in the seventh, as Stephen Peterson walked two batters and allowed a hit to load the bases. Peterson also notched a pair of strikeouts, but was lifted in favor of Kevin Shackelford.

Shackelford would walk Stephen Piscotty to bring in a run, but left the bases loaded to prevent any further damage as he fanned Jonathan Rodriguez.

Left-hander Jed Bradley will start the first game tonight of Brevard County's three-game home series against the Daytona Cubs. (Image courtesy Brevard County Manatees)
Jed Bradley

Tommy Toledo entered in the ninth and earned fourth save of the year to ensure the win, which put Brevard County a season-high five games over the .500 mark this season.

GOING FOR THE SWEEP

A four-game sweep of Palm Beach is on the line for Brevard County on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium, beginning at 6:35 p.m.

Southpaw Jed Bradley (3-1, 3.82) will toe the rubber for the Manatees. The Cardinals will make it a battle of lefties as they will send Ryan Sherriff (0-1, 2.70) to the hill.

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