Manatees Crush Palm Bay 10-1, Totaled 17 Hits On The Night

By  //  June 10, 2015

Brevard-County-Manatees-580-2
The Brevard County Manatees (26-31) scored eight runs in the top of the second inning en route to a 10-1 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals (26-32) on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. (BC Manatees Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees (26-31) scored eight runs in the top of the second inning en route to a 10-1 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals (26-32) on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

Victor Roache
Victor Roache

With the game scoreless after one, Victor Roache led off the second inning with a solo homer to right field to give the Manatees a 1-0 lead.

Roache now leads the Florida State League with 10 homers on the season. Garrett Cooper then reached on a throwing error by shortstop Robelys Reyes.

Cameron Garfield reached on a bunt single to put two on with nobody out. Angel Ortega also bunted his way aboard. Ortega was credited with a sacrifice, but a throwing error by the first baseman Luke Voit allowed Cooper to score. Garfield moved to third and Ortega to second on the Voit miscue.

Two batters later, Chris McFarland singled to center to plate both Garfield and Ortega. McFarland then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by starting pitcher Luke Weaver. It was the third error of the inning committed by Palm Beach.

Taylor Brennan reached on an infield single that allowed McFarland to score. The Manatees led, 5-0, but they were far from done in the inning.

Clint Coulter
Clint Coulter

Clint Coulter stepped up and drilled a double to left. Michael Ratterree then drove a two-run double into center field that brought an abrupt end to Weaver’s night.

Cody Schumacher came on in relief. Roache recorded his second hit of the inning when he singled to left and advanced Ratterree to third. Schumacher then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Ratterree to score.

All in all the Manatees scored eight runs on seven hits and three errors in the second. Brevard County led after two, 8-0.

Palm Beach scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Brett Wiley. The Manatees answered immediately.

With one out, Ratterree crushed his second double of the night. Two batters later, Cooper singled to right field to score Ratterree and gave Brevard County an eight-run cushion once again.

Brevard County tacked on another run in the fifth. Ortega led off the frame with a double to left and scored on an RBI single from Brennan.

Johnny Hellweg
Johnny Hellweg

Johnny Hellweg, the Brevard County starter, pitched two scoreless innings. It was his first appearance since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last April.

The righty allowed one hit, a second-inning leadoff double by Derek Gibson. He walked one and struck out one.

Jorge Ortega (5-4, 2.01 ERA) earned the win in relief. Ortega tossed five innings and surrendered just one run on three hits. He did not walk a batter and fanned three. Tyler Spurlin finished the game with two scoreless frames.

Weaver (0-3, 3.38 ERA) was hit with the loss. He recorded just one out in the second and gave up eight runs – only one earned – on seven hits.

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The Manatees had 17 hits in the ballgame and all nine starters recorded a base knock. Seven Brevard County batters recorded multi-hit games. McFarland led the charge with three hits, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base.

The Manatees had seven extra-base hits. Coulter and Ratterree each smacked two doubles.

The Manatees and Cardinals will continue the series tomorrow night at Roger Dean Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Eric Marzec (1-3, 3.43 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Manatees. RHP Alex Reyes (1-4, 2.17 ERA) will start for the Cardinals.