Manatees Halt Skid With 10-4 Win Over Miracle
By Brevard County Manatees // July 24, 2013
offense comes up big in blowout WIN
Related Content: AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – A strong performance from the bullpen was matched by a strong performance from the offense as the Brevard County Manatees snapped a three-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle on Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium.
Brevard County (15-14 overall, 52-44 second half) starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta (0-4, 6.57 ERA) was unable to make it through the top of the first inning as he walked four men and allowed a two-run single to Matt Koch, while recording just two outs. A brigade of Manatees’ relievers stepped up and held one of the best offenses in the Florida State League to just two runs over the final 8.1 frames.
HANIGERS HOMER EXTENDS LEAD TO 6-2
With the bullpen taking charge for most of the game, the offense took Scarpetta off the hook for the loss by putting up four runs on five singles and a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning.
Mitch Haniger homered for the second consecutive night as his two-run shot in the fifth extending Brevard’s lead to 6-2.
Mark Williams earned the win in his longest outing of the season as he tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in relief. He escaped a bases loaded situation when he came on in the top of the first and then allowed just three hits until Matt Miller came on in the sixth.
Miller surrendered a triple to Byron Buxton, with Buxton scoring on a wild pitch for Miller’s only run allowed in two innings. Miller fanned two and surrendered two hits.
Santo Manzanillo worked himself into and out of trouble, with a trio of singles loading the bases before he rolled a double play ball to end the inning and leave two runners in scoring position.
Up 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Brevard County batted around in the inning as they posted four more runs on five singles and two walks to take a 10-3 lead.
The only other Fort Myers (15-15, 60-37) run came on a solo homer off the bat of Buxton against Tommy Toledo in the top of the ninth. In a combine 8.1 innings from the bullpen, no walks were issued.
Offensively, eight different Manatees recorded at least one base hit, with all nine men reaching base. Haniger, Nick Ramirez and Greg Hopkins each crossed the plate twice, while D’Vontrey Richardson, Haniger and Hopkins were all credited with two RBI each. Five hitters had two-hit games, as the ‘Tees tallied 13 hits on the night.
BREVARD CLOSES SERIES WEDNESDAY
The Manatees and the Miracle will play the final contest in the season series on Wednesday night. A win for Brevard County would give the club a tie in the current four-game series and a season series win after taking both games played in Fort Myers in June.
Tyler Cravy (3-1, 2.98) will look to continue a particularly impressive stretch on the mound when he takes the ball at 6:35 p.m. against Miguel Soliman (1-4, 7.46).
Since the All-Star break, Cravy is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in seven appearances with three of those outings being starts.
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