Manatees Drop Fourth Straight To Cubs
By Space Coast Daily // April 27, 2014
Manatees drop to .500 for first time
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – Despite another strong start by Damien Magnifico (1-2, 3.46), the Brevard County Manatees offense sputtered again in a 2-0 loss to the Daytona Cubs on Saturday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Magnifico delivered another gutsy performance despite being saddled with the loss as he threw 83 pitches in five innings of work. The right-hander allowed two runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out two.
Unfortunately for Magnifico, his counterpart was just as impressive. Daytona’s Jose Rosario (2-2, 3.86), who struggled in four innings against Brevard (11-11) on April 4, sparkled in his six innings on the bump.
The righty turned in his best performance thus far in 2014, as he did not allow a run on five hits, walked three and struck out five on 91 pitches.
The Cubs (8-14) gave Rosario the lead when they brought home the game’s only two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Magnifico struck out Bijan Rademacher and Dan Vogelbach to start the inning, Daytona’s bats came alive. Chadd Krist singled through the right side and Rock Shoulders advanced him to third on a single of his own.
With a 3-1 count, Tim Saunders drove a ball into deep right-center field. Nathan Orf, making just his second start of the season in right field, made a great, diving effort into the gap, but the ball landed just past his outstretched glove. Saunders ended up at third with a two-run triple and gave Daytona a 2-0 lead.
The Cubs bullpen followed up Rosario’s excellent effort with a dominant performance of its own. Austin Reed and Andrew McKirahan combined to allow just one hit – a single by Orlando Arcia – over the game’s final three frames. McKirahan got three ground outs in the top of the ninth to pick up his first save of the year.
The Manatees (11-11) best chance offensively came in the top of the third inning. With one out, Brevard County got three consecutive singles by Michael Garza, Orf and Arcia.
However, Rosario buckled down to end the threat Cameron Garfield struck out on four pitches and then Victor Roache fouled out to first to end the rally.
Arcia and Michael Reed led the charge offensively for the ‘Tees. Both hitters extended their hitting streaks to four games with two-hit performances.
The Manatees will look to salvage the final game of their four-game series when they battle the Cubs again on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 5:35 p.m. in Daytona Beach.
Left-hander Jed Bradley (3-1, 3.80) – the reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week – who is looking for his fourth consecutive victory, will take the hill for Brevard. Daytona will counter with right-hander Tayler Scott (2-2, 4.05), who carried a no-hitter into the seventh in his first start against Brevard on April 5.
