Brevard Manatees Bounce Back To Defeat Bradenton 4-2, Led By Wang’s Brilliant Performance

By  //  June 30, 2015

Wang throws career-high eight shutout innings

Brevard-Manatees-580-2
Wei-Chung Wang turned in his second excellent outing in a row, this time throwing a career-high eight shutout innings as the Brevard County Manatees (2-2, 31-42 overall) earned a 4-2 win over the Bradenton Marauders (3-2, 35-40 overall) on Monday night at McKechnie Field. (BC Manatees Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Wei-Chung Wang turned in his second excellent outing in a row, this time throwing a career-high eight shutout innings as the Brevard County Manatees (2-2, 31-42 overall) earned a 4-2 win over the Bradenton Marauders (3-2, 35-40 overall) on Monday night at McKechnie Field.

The game’s first five innings would be a duel between Wang and Marauders starting pitcher Luis Heredia.

Heredia gave up just a one-out single in the top of the first inning until what would be the game’s deciding frame in the top half of the sixth.

The inning started with Angel Ortega reaching second base when Wyatt Mathisen’s throw went into the stands. He then moved up 90 feet on an Omar Garcia groundout and then came into score on a Chris McFarland base hit to center.

Heredia then threw wide of first on a pickoff attempt, which allowed McFarland to go to third. Michael Ratterree then brought him home on a sacrifice fly.

Clint Coulter
Clint Coulter

Clint Coulter then followed with a double to center and would be brought home on a Garrett Cooper single.

The Manatees added an insurance run for themselves in the top of the eighth inning against Marauders reliever Felipe Gonzalez.

Garcia was the spark for the inning, reaching on a leadoff infield single, and then promptly stealing second and third for his 27th and 28th stolen bases of the season. Ratterree made sure the effort paid off with his second sacrifice fly of the game to give Brevard County a four-run advantage.

Preston Gainey was given the responsibility of getting the game’s final three outs in the bottom of the ninth, which started with some worry.

Austin Meadows reached on an infield single and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Harold Ramirez followed with a triple to right, driving in the first Marauder run of the night. Gainey then struck out Erich Weiss and induced a sacrifice fly from Edwin Espinal.

After a Reese McGuire singled, Gainey struck out Jin-De Jhang to end the game.

Wang made the victory possible by throwing eight innings of five-hit shutout ball, striking out five and walking two for his fifth victory of the season.

VIDEO: Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Prince Fielder  Hammers 300th Home RunRelated Story:
VIDEO: Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Prince Fielder Hammers 300th Home Run

 

The eight innings pitched were a career-best for the left-hander, who has now thrown 15 and two-thirds consecutive innings without giving up a run.

The Manatees will go for the series split in the finale on Tuesday as RHP Brandon Woodruff (1-4, 4.06 ERA) will get the ball against LHP Cody Dickson (6-5, 4.11 ERA).

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M.