Barnes, Poppe Power Manatees, Edge Cubs 5-4

Manatees pitcher Jacob Barnes, seen here in a 2013 file photo, threw three perfect innings of relief in Brevard County's 5-4 victory over the Daytona Cubs on Monday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)
Manatees pitcher Jacob Barnes, seen here in a 2013 file photo, threw three perfect innings of relief in Brevard County’s 5-4 victory over the Daytona Cubs on Monday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees won their third one-run game against Daytona Cubs on Monday night, thanks largely to a pair of right-handed relievers. 

Tanner Poppe
Tanner Poppe

Jacob Barnes and Tanner Poppe held the Cubs scoreless over the game’s final four innings, giving the Manatees a 5-4 win at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Barnes pitched three perfect innings in relief of ‘Tees (3-1) starter Jorge Lopez. The righty recorded three strikeouts over his three innings and bridged the gap to Poppe for the ninth.

Arcia Orlando
Arcia Orlando

Poppe got into some trouble when Cubs (1-3) third baseman Jeimer Candelario drilled a one-out triple off the right field wall. With the tying run on third base, the Manatees were forced to pull the infield in, but their closer worked out of the jam. Poppe induced a weak pop-up to second baseman Orlando Arcia and struck out Cubs left fielder Rock Shoulders to nail down the save and give Brevard County the series win.

Lopez earned the victory in his first start of 2014. He allowed four runs – two earned – in five innings of work. The right-hander also struck out four Cubs and walked two in the winning effort.

While the pitching was strong at the back end for Brevard County, the Manatees had to battle back from the start. The ‘Tees trailed 3-0 heading into the top of the third, but pieced together a rally with three doubles in four at-bats.

Tyrone Taylor
Tyrone Taylor

Tyrone Taylor led off the frame with a two-bagger. Two batters later, Cameron Garfield doubled him home and Victor Roache followed suit with a run-scoring double of his own to pull the Manatees within one run.

The Cubs added a run in the bottom half of the third to lead 4-2, but Brevard responded. With runners on first and second, Taylor pulled a hard ground ball down the left field line. Jose Sermo scored from second and Brandon Macias came all the way around from first to tie the score at 4-4.

Yadiel Rivera
Yadiel Rivera

That score remained unchanged until the top of the fifth inning. The Manatees had Roache on second and Yadiel Rivera on first with two outs and Sermo coming to the plate. The switch-hitting designated hitter hit a high pop up to shortstop that looked like it would end the inning. Daytona shortstop Marco Hernandez camped under the ball, but appeared to lose track of it in the lights. The ball fell in shallow center field, allowing Roache to score what would eventually be the winning run.

Cubs’ relief pitcher Yao-Lin Wang was the tough-luck loser as he was on the mound when the error allowed the ‘Tees to take the lead. That fifth inning was Wang’s only frame of the game and he allowed just the one unearned run on one hit.

Taylor, who delivered the game-tying hit for the ‘Tees, was also the team’s largest offensive contributor. Brevard County’s center fielder hit three doubles as part of a 3-for-5 night that included two RBI and a run scored.

The Manatees will remain on the road over the next six days. They begin the road trip with a three-game series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers (3-1) on Tuesday night. Left-hander Hobbs Johnson is the probable starter for the ‘Tees and RHP Yorfrank Lopez is scheduled to pitch for Lakeland. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.

Manatees Leaders

Batting Leaders

1 M. Reed 4
2 Y. Rivera 1
3 O. Arcia 0
 

Pitching Leaders

1 J. Barnes 0.00
2 T. Wagner 0.00
3 D. Magnifico 1.59
 

MANATEES STATS »FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE STATS »

Florida State League Standings

    W L % GB
  Brevard County 3 1 .750
  Dunedin 3 1 .750
  Lakeland 3 1 .750
  Clearwater 1 3 .250 2.0
  Daytona 1 3 .250 2.0
  Tampa 1 3 .250 2.0