Yanks, A-Rod Best Manatees 6-1 in Front of 3,146 Fans

By  //  July 7, 2013

Rodriguez, YanKs PLAY MANTEES TODAY at 5:05 p.m.

Alex Rodriguez, a 14-time Major League All-Star and three-time American League Most Valuable Player ended the first game of his rehab stint with Tampa by going 1-for-2 with a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch on the upper left thigh by Brevard County (8-7 second half, 45-37 overall) starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta, just below his surgically-repaired hip, and was retired at the front end of a double play following the hit. (Brevard County Manatees image)
Alex Rodriguez, a 14-time Major League All-Star and three-time American League Most Valuable Player ended the first game of his rehab stint with Tampa by going 1-for-2 with a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch on the upper left thigh by Brevard County (8-7 second half, 45-37 overall) starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta, just below his surgically-repaired hip, and was retired at the front end of a double play following the hit. (Brevard County Manatees image)

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – With one of the biggest superstars that the game of baseball has ever seen on their roster, the Tampa Yankees were able to take down the Brevard County Manatees, by the score of 6-1 on Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium in front of 3,148 fans.

Alex Rodriguez, a 14-time Major League All-Star and three-time American League Most Valuable Player ended the first game of his rehab stint with Tampa by going 1-for-2 with a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch on the upper left thigh by Brevard County (8-7 second half, 45-37 overall) starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta, just below his surgically-repaired hip, and was retired at the front end of a double play following the hit.

Alex Rodriguez, a 14-time Major League All-Star and three-time American League Most Valuable Player ended the first game of his rehab stint with Tampa by going 1-for-2 with a run scored. (Official NY Yankees image)
Alex Rodriguez, a 14-time Major League All-Star and three-time American League Most Valuable Player ended the first game of his rehab stint with Tampa by going 1-for-2 with a run scored. (Official NY Yankees image)

In the field, Rodriguez snared a Greg Hopkins liner in the second and cleanly fielded both ground balls hit his way at third base.

However, the true story on the night for the Yankees was another Miami native, Peter O’Brien. He earned some positive comments from the big-leaguer in a post-game press conference, as O’Brien went 2-for-4 with five runs batted in, including three on a bases-clearing triple that scored Saxon Butler, Ben Gamel and Rodriguez to give Tampa (6-6, 34-46) a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning.

SCARPETTA TAKES LOSS

Scarpetta (0-3, 5.59 ERA) was handed the loss, taking responsibility for all three runs after he left the game with the bases loaded as O’Brien’s three-run triple came against Stephen Peterson. Scarpetta surrendered two hits and four walks, while fanning a pair his 4.2 innings of work.

Brevard County starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta allowed three runs in 4.2 innings as the Manatees fell to Alex Rodriguez and the Tampa Yankees, by the score of 6-1 on Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)
Brevard County starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta allowed three runs in 4.2 innings as the Manatees fell to Alex Rodriguez and the Tampa Yankees, by the score of 6-1 on Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

O’Brien also knocked in Jose Toussen for the final run, after Toussen notched a two-run double to plate Ali Castillo and Gamel in the seventh.

Lance Roenicke’s first of a career-high four hits – a double in the second – drove in Cameron Garfield for the lone Manatees’ run. Garfield and Roenicke combine for six of Brevard County’s seven hits. Brevard County (8-7, 45-37) left nine men on base, drew just two walks and struck out seven times.

A-ROD BACK IN ACTION THIS EVENING AT SPACE COAST STADIUM

Rodriguez and the Yankees return to Space Coast Stadium on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. Chad Pierce (4-3, 3.75) is slated to take the hill for Brevard County against Tampa’s Corey Black (2-7, 4.20).