Manatees, Harvey Power Past St. Lucie Mets, 6-5
By Brevard County Manatees // May 14, 2013
harvey picks up his league-leading ninth save
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees used a four-run seventh inning to power past the St. Lucie Mets, 6-5 on Monday night at Tradition Field.
With the Mets leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Chadwin Stang roped a double to center field to lead off the frame. With one out, Greg Hopkins smacked an RBI double down the third base line to trim the deficit to one run.
After Nick Ramirez was retired, Cameron Garfield laced a two-out RBI double to tie the game. Cody Hawn followed up with single up the middle to score Garfield and give the Manatees (19-17) its first lead of the night.
Ben McMahan belted an RBI triple into dead center field to give Brevard County a 6-4 cushion. McMahan, who was recently activated off the disabled list, went 2-for-3 with two RBI in his Brevard County debut. Garfield and Hawn had two hits each as well for the Manatees.
HARVEY FANS MARON TO END GAME
That was enough for the back end of the ‘Tees bullpen. Daniel Meadows retired all four men he faced in the seventh and eighth innings.
St. Lucie (22-13) would plate a run in the ninth to make it a one run game, but Seth Harvey struck out Cam Maron with runners on second and third to end the ballgame.
Both clubs traded runs in the first four innings, alternating single runs in each frame. McMahan hit an RBI single in the second to score Garfield.
Then in the fourth, Mets starting pitcher Hansel Robles walked four consecutive batters with two outs to force in a run. T.J. Mittelstaedt was credited with an RBI when Robles forced in Brandon Macias.
The Mets would break the trend of alternating runs when Dustin Lawley and Travis Taijeron hit solo homers off of Manatees’ starter Jed Bradley to give St. Lucie a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Bradley (3-1, 3.69) did not factor in the decision as he surrendered four runs on nine hits in five innings of work. He walked three and struck out three.
MILLER EARNS VICTORY
Matt Miller earned the victory by throwing a scoreless frame in the sixth inning. Harvey locked down his ninth save in as many opportunities.
St. Lucie reliever Chasen Bradford, who was on the mound for the explosive seventh innings, took the loss after he gave up four runs off of five hits – with four of them being extra-base hits – in just one inning.
The Manatees and Mets will square off for a 10:30 a.m. contest on Tuesday at Tradition Field. Drew Gagnon (3-2, 5.29) will toe the rubber for Brevard County. The Mets will counter with Matthew Bowman (1-0, 4.50), a southpaw who made his A-Advanced debut against Daytona last week.
