Brevard Manatees Start Hot Against Yankees To Claim 10-2 Victory
By Brevard County Manatees // July 9, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • TAMPA, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees (5-8, 34-48) scored four runs in each of the first two innings and never looked back in a 10-2 victory over the Tampa Yankees (7-6, 41-42) on Wednesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Brevard County offense established their dominance early in the first inning. Chris McFarland led off the game with a single to left field against Tampa starter Vicente Campos (0-2, 13.50 ERA).
After McFarland stole second, Taylor Brennan walked. Two batters later, Garrett Cooper smacked a ground-rule double over the right-center field wall that plated McFarland and opened the scoring. Cameron Garfield then reached on an infield single that scored Brennan.
Two batters later, Rafael Neda drove home a pair with a double to center. Brevard County led after one inning, 4 -0.
The Yankees scored a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Mike Ford, but Brevard County’s offense went right back to work in the second frame. Omar Garcia and McFarland singled consecutively to start the frame.
The two then executed a double steal with Brennan at the plate. Brennan walked to load the bases. With one out and the bases loaded, Garrett Cooper scored Garcia with a sacrifice fly to center.
Cameron Garfield then singled home McFarland and made it 6-1. After Campos walked Michael Ratterree to load the bases, Tampa went to the bullpen. Luis Alberto Niebla came on with one out in the second.
Neda smacked a two-run single to right field. Brennan and Garfield scored and gave Brevard County an 8-1 advantage.
The Manatees added another run in the fourth on an RBI double by Angel Ortega.
Manatees’ starter Jorge Ortega (7-5, 2.25 ERA) turned in another brilliant performance. He allowed just one run on seven hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Garcia smacked his first career home run with two outs in the ninth to make it 10-1, Brevard. Garcia finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored.
McFarland, Garfield and Neda each collected three hits. Neda had four RBI.
Preston Gainey pitched the final two innings for Brevard County. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks.
Brevard County and Tampa will play the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. RHP Cy Sneed (0-1, 9.00 ERA) will be on the bump for the Manatees. Tampa will send RHP Cale Coshow (4-1, 1.64 ERA) to the mound.
