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Hammerheads Nip Manatees 2 – 1 In 9th

By  //  July 31, 2013

Pierce goes six scoreless innings for 'tee's

The Manatees who only had two hits up to that point, plated the first run of the game in the top of the sixth. D'Vontrey Richardson drew a one-out walk and then Yadiel Rivera reached on a fielding error by third baseman Ryan Fisher that put runners on the corners. (Manatee's image)
The Manatees who only had two hits up to that point, plated the first run of the game in the top of the sixth. D’Vontrey Richardson drew a one-out walk and then Yadiel Rivera reached on a fielding error by third baseman Ryan Fisher that put runners on the corners. (Manatee’s image)

JUPITER, FLORIDA –  Six shutout innings from starting pitcher Chad Pierce were not enough as the Brevard County Manatees were edged 2-1 by the Jupiter Hammerheads on a walk-off single in the ninth inning on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

Manatees starting pitcher Chad Pierce threw six shutout innings but did not factor in the decision as Brevard County fell 2-1 to the Jupiter Hammerheads on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. (Manatee's image)
Manatees starting pitcher Chad Pierce threw six shutout innings but did not factor in the decision as Brevard County fell 2-1 to the Jupiter Hammerheads on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. (Manatee’s image)

Pierce’s (5-4, 3.26 ERA) six innings tied his season high, although the eight hits that he allowed were the second-most that he has yielded in an outing so far this season.

Only two of those hits though went for extra bases, as Pierce benefitted from two double plays and Mitch Haniger throwing out Josh Adams at home plate to end the fifth inning to keep the game scoreless.

The Manatees (16-20 first half, 53-50 overall), who only had two hits up to that point, plated the first run of the game in the top of the sixth. D’Vontrey Richardson drew a one-out walk and then Yadiel Rivera reached on a fielding error by third baseman Ryan Fisher that put runners on the corners.

Nick Ramirez followed with a RBI ground out to drive in Richardson and make it a 1-0 game.

MOORE COMES ON IN RELEIF

Alex Moore relieved Pierce in the seventh and after allowing a lead-off walk, Moore forced Adams to fly out to center and Brent Keys to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.

Greg Hopkins led off the top of the eighth with a double for the ‘Tees and then moved to third on a T.J. Mittelstaedt fly out. Hopkins tagged on Richardson’s fly ball to right but was thrown out to deny Brevard the insurance run and end the inning.

Nick Ramirez (Image courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.)
Nick Ramirez (Image courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.)

After recording eight hits with nothing to show for it, Jupiter (19-19, 55-51) finally got on the board with one swing of the bat as Ryan Fisher took Moore deep with one out in the eighth to tie the game.

Moore stayed in for the bottom of the ninth and allowed a lead-off single to Alfredo Lopez before Lopez moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Santo Manzanillo was then called upon to get the game into extra innings.

Manzanillo was able to get Adams to line out to Rivera for the second out but with Keys batting, Lopez moved to third on a passed ball. Keys was then intentionally walked.

It would be Austin Barnes who would be the hero for the Hammerheads as he lined a single to right to plate Lopez and complete Jupiter’s comeback to give them the walk-off win.

The Manatees recorded just four hits, including a fourth inning single from Richardson that extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Brevard County and Jupiter will be back at it again on Wednesday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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