Dunedin Walk-Off Double Dooms Brevard Manatees In 7-6 Defeat
By Brevard County Manatees // August 10, 2015
Brevard Manatees 18-23, 47-63 overall
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Anthony Alford hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Dunedin Blue Jays (18-24, 50-62 overall) defeated the Brevard County Manatees (18-23, 47-63 overall) 7-6 on Sunday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
With the game tied at six, Jorge Saez led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to left field against Kaleb Earls. After a sacrifice bunt by Andy Fermin, Alford drilled a game-winning double to center field to complete the sweep for Dunedin.
The Manatees originally took the lead in the top of the first. With one out, Chris McFarland singled and came home on a double from Clint Coulter.
After Dunedin took a 2-1 lead on a two-run, first-inning homer by J.D. Davis, Brevard County responded immediately in the top of the second.
Taylor Brennan singled through the left side to start the frame.
After a Michael Ratterree single, Jose Pena singled to left. An error by J.D. Davis allowed Brennan to score, Ratterree to advance to third and Pena to move up to second. Steven Halcomb then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Manatees the lead.
The Blue Jays took the lead again in the bottom of the second on consecutive RBI singles from Fermin and Alford.
Garrett Cooper drilled a triple to lead off the third and scored on a ground out by Robinzon Diaz. Pena gave the Manatees the lead with a leadoff solo home run in the fourth. It was Pena’s second home run of the season.
Dunedin took the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Derrick Loveless hit a solo homer to deep center off of Brevard County starter Javi Salas. Two batters later, Fermin took Salas deep. After four innings, Dunedin led, 6-5.
Salas was lifted after the fourth. He surrendered six runs – five earned – on seven hits. He walked one and struck out five. Salas allowed three solo home runs. Opponents had hit just four homers against Salas entering Sunday’s contest.
Tyler Spurlin was the first man out of the bullpen for the Manatees. He tossed three shutout frames and allowed just a hit and a walk.
With Brevard County trailing 6-5, Dunedin brought in Chris Smith to pitch the top of the eighth inning. On the first pitch of Smith’s outing, Pena blasted his second home run of the day to tie the game. Pena finished 4-for-4 with the two long balls. It was the second multi-home run game of the season for the Manatees. Victor Roache had two home runs for Brevard County on May 14 vs. Bradenton.
Earls (1-2, 3.24 ERA) took the loss after he allowed the double to Alford in the ninth. Smith (3-1, 0.95 ERA) was credited with the win.
Alford finished with four hits, the walk-off double, a triple and two RBI.
The Manatees will start a three-game series in Tampa tomorrow. RHP Jorge Ortega
(8-7, 2.45 ERA) will get the start for Brevard County.
The Yankees will send LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-4, 3.39 ERA) to the bump. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
