Brevard Rallies For Fifth Straight Win

By  //  July 15, 2013

Manatees score two in seventh to top Cards, 5-3

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Brevard County and Palm Beach will close out their four-game series with a doubleheader on Monday that is set to begin at 5:05 p.m. See the link below to buy tickets. (Brevard Manatees image)

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning, en route to their season-high fifth straight win, as they defeated the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-3 on Sunday.

T.J. Mittelstaedt, seen here in a game from earlier this season, went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in Brevard County's 5-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Sunday.
T.J. Mittelstaedt, seen here in a game from earlier this season, went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in Brevard County’s 5-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Sunday. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

The second game of Sunday’s doubleheader was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Monday, beginning at 5:05 p.m. The Manatees (13-8 second half, 50-38 overall) and the Cardinals (13-9, 42-48) will play two seven-inning games.

With the score tied 3-3 after six innings and two outs in the top of the seventh, Brandon Macias started the rally as he reached base on a hit by pitch. T.J. Mittelstaedt then stepped up and doubled down the right field line to bring Macias home, as Mittelstaedt advanced to third on the throw in from the outfield.

MANATEES TAKE CONTROL 

Yadiel Rivera then kept things going as he singled through the right side to plate Mittelstaedt for his first hit of the night.

Tyler Cravy, who was in his second inning of relief, pitched around two walks in the bottom of the inning to pick up his third win of the season.

The Cardinals scored the first run of the game off of Brevard County starting pitcher Jed Bradley (4-3, 4.30 ERA), who was making his first start since June 22. Anthony Garcia led off the second inning with a single to center and then stole second base. Danny Stienstra would then drive in Garcia with a single to left to make it a 1-0 game, but that would be all that Palm Beach would get in the inning.

Brevard County’s bats woke up in the top of the fourth when with two outs, Mitch Haniger tripled to right field. Nick Ramirez then followed with his 18th homer of the season to give the ‘Tees a 2-1 lead.

Nick Ramierez
Nick Ramierez

MITTELSTAEDT LAUNCHED A HOME RUN

Ramirez has now driven in a run in his last five games and is now one home run away from tying the Brevard County single-season home run record of 19, set by Hunter Morris in 2011.

The Manatees added to their lead in the top of the sixth when Mittelstaedt launched a home run to right to lead off the frame. Mittelstaedt, along with Haniger, went 2-for-4 on the day.

Bradley came back out to work the bottom of the sixth but ran into trouble right away as he allowed consecutive doubles to David Popkins and Starlin Rodriguez, with Starlin Rodriguez’s double bringing home Popkins and making it a one-run game.

Jonathan Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to tie the game and end Bradley’s day. Bradley finished by going five-plus innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out three.

The Manatees added to their lead in the top of the sixth when Mittelstaedt launched a home run to right to lead off the frame.

Cravy came on and the ‘Tees were able to get out of trouble as catcher Rafael Neda picked off Jonathan Rodriguez at first base. He then forced Garcia to fly out to center and Stienstra to pop out to first to end the inning.

Brevard County and Palm Beach will close out their four-game series with a doubleheader on Monday that is set to begin at 5:05 p.m.

Southpaw Brent Suter (7-5, 3.01) is scheduled to start game one for the Manatees, while the Cardinals will counter with their own lefty Kyle Hald (5-6, 4.89). In game two, Jacob Barnes (6-2, 3.49) is slated to toe the rubber for the ‘Tees and another lefty will get the ball for the Cards as Ryan Sherriff (2-2, 4.00) is set to take the mound.

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