Manatees Use Long Ball To Defeat Clearwater
By Space Coast Daily // April 14, 2013
Brevard County Now 5-4 On Season
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Behind Nick Ramirez’s two home runs, the Brevard County Manatees posted their best offensive showing of the young season in a 10-2 win over the Clearwater Threshers at Space Coast Stadium on Saturday night.
Brevard County (5-4) had the leadoff man reach base safely six out of eight times and that started right away in the first inning. Chadwin Stang notched his first of two hits on the night and then scored on a Cameron Garfield double.
A five-run second inning saw every Manatee run score with two outs on the board. Brandon Macias scored on a Dionis Hinojosa single to start the rally. Stang then walked and came across on a Greg Hopkins double and Hopkins was brought home by Ramirez’s first long ball of the night to make it a 6-0.
Clearwater’s (5-4) only two runs in the game were scored in the third on a pair of doubles. Jonathan Roof hit one before Kyrell Hudson was hit by a pitch and highly-rated prospect Maikel Franco brought them both in with a two-bagger.
Brevard County would get those two runs and one more back in the bottom of the third. Macias was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second and third on two separate wild pitches. After the second, which was the fourth ball on Lance Roenicke, a wild throw into left field allowed him to scamper home. Hinojosa followed Roenicke with a four-pitch walk, setting up Stang’s two-RBI triple.
Ramirez led off the fourth inning and blasted his second home run of the game, which was also his third in two nights. Ramirez became the first Manatee to hit two home runs in a game at home since Brock Kjeldgaard accomplished the feat on June 5, 2011.
The 10-2 lead that resulted eventually became the final score, thanks to strong pitching performances from four different Manatees.
Brevard County’s pitching staff also had a big hand in the victory as starter Jacob Barnes (1-0, 2.57) earned the win in his first start of the season. He allowed two runs in five innings of work and allowed four hits, while striking out five with no walks.
Out of the bullpen, Tyler Cravy, Tommy Toledo and Seth Harvey combined for four scoreless innings with just one hit, two walks and three strikeouts to round out the box score.
On the other side, Clearwater starting pitcher Colin Kleven (0-2, 18.90) was roughed up as he was charged with nine runs on seven hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. However, six of the eight outs he recorded were on strikes.
The Manatees look for their second straight series win on Sunday night in the series finale against the Threshers with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
