Manatees Down Cubs 5-1, Help Childhood Cancer Research
By Brevard County Manatees // July 4, 2013
'Pack the Park' DRAWS BIG CROWD
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – On and off the field, the Brevard County Manatees hosted a successful “Pack the Park” night on Wednesday at Space Coast Stadium, by taking a 5-1 win over the Daytona Cubs and by helping the St. Baldrick’s Foundation raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research.
A total of 19 coaches, players and staff members volunteered to have their heads shaved in support of St. Baldrick’s over the course of the game, with money being raised throughout the night for St. Baldrick’s to help fund childhood cancer research grants.
On the field, Manatees’ (8-4 second half, 45-34 overall) starting pitcher Jacob Barnes (6-2, 3.44 ERA) hurled seven scoreless innings in his longest start of the season, as he held Daytona’s (5-6, 42-35) offense to just three hits.
Barnes did not issue a walk and struck out three batters as he earned the win when Brevard all five of its runs in the bottom half of the seventh.
In the seventh, Yadiel Rivera started the big inning with a one-out triple. Rivera then scored on a Nick Ramirez single to get Brevard County on the board and break the scoreless tie.
Ramirez was erased on a Mitch Haniger fielder’s choice, but Haniger eventually scored on Cameron Garfield’s single up the middle after advancing on a wild pitch.
Cody Hawn kept the rally going with an RBI double to plate Garfield and then came across himself on a Greg Hopkins single, to make it 4-0. Hopkins was able to advance to third on the play thanks to a poor throw by Daytona left fielder Zeke DeVoss, who was charged with his second error of the game. Ben McMahan took responsibility for driving the final run home, in the form of Hopkins, on a single.
Rivera, Haniger and Hopkins each had two hits, while the other six hitters in Brevard County’s line-up also recorded one hit each.
Dan Meadows took over for Barnes and went two innings as he surrendered one run in the ninth as the Cubs broke up the shutout. He also walked four and struck out three.
Both teams will play the middle contest of their three-game set on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach at 6:35 p.m. The series will conclude on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. back at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.
For the Manatees, the reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week Brent Suter (7-4, 2.87 ERA) will toe the rubber. The Cubs will counter with right-hander Ben Wells (5-6, 3.62 ERA).
For more information on the Brevard County Manatees, call 321-633-9200 or go online to ManateesBaseball.com. Also, don’t forget to like the Manatees on Facebook or follow the Manatees on Twitter.
