Brevard County Manatees Bounces Daytona, 5-1

By  //  May 8, 2014

Damien Magnifico strikeouts six in six frames

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Damien Magnifico had his best start of the season thus far in the Brevard County Manatees’ 5-1 win over the Daytona Cubs on Wednesday night at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Manatees starting pitcher Damien Magnifico allowed one run and struck out six in six innings as Brevard County defeated the Daytona Cubs, 5-1 on Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. (Brevard Manatees)
Manatees starting pitcher Damien Magnifico allowed one run and struck out six in six innings as Brevard County defeated the Daytona Cubs, 5-1 on Wednesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. (Brevard Manatees)

Magnifico (2-2, 2.83 ERA) pitched six innings and only faltered once. The right-hander allowed a run in the first inning on an RBI double by Bijan Rademacher, but rebounded to throw five straight scoreless frames. He walked one, struck out six and gave up six hits in the winning effort.

Brevard (17-15) also helped Magnifico with early run support. Nathan Orf and CF Tyrone Taylor put the ‘Tees on top early. Orf led off the game with a ground rule double to left-center field and Taylor singled him home for the game’s first run.

Nathan Orf
Nathan Orf

Rademacher tied the score in the bottom of the inning, but Orf and Taylor struck back in the third to pull Brevard back ahead. Orf hit his second ground rule double of the game and Taylor ripped a double down the left field line.

The Manatees then took a 2-1 lead on Taylor’s Minor League-leading 16th double of the season. They added another run later in the inning when Michael Reed singled to score Taylor.

The fifth inning brought another Manatees’ insurance run, but it also included a scary moment for Daytona (10-20) starting pitcher Rob Zastryzny.

Tyrone Taylor
Tyrone Taylor

With Orlando Arcia on first and one out, Reed hit a hard line drive back at Zastryzny, who turned and took the liner off his left arm. Zastryzny turned and took the liner off his left arm. He made the play to throw out Reed, but exited the game immediately after.

Daytona called on Stephen Perakslis to replace Zastryzny on the hill to face Cameron Garfield with two outs and Arcia on second. Garfield roped an RBI double that scored Arcia and gave Brevard County a 4-1 lead.

Michael Reed
Michael Reed

Austin Ross took over for Magnifico in the seventh and cruised with the three-run cushion.

The reliever pitched a pair of scoreless frames. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out three.

The Manatees added another insurance run in the top of the ninth before Tanner Poppe took the hill to close out the win.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Arcia hit a single up the middle to score Yadiel Rivera. Poppe took the ball with the 5-1 lead and worked a perfect bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

Yadiel Rivera
Yadiel Rivera

Offensively, Brevard County racked up 14 hits with five of them being doubles.

Mike Garza went 3-for-4 out of the number nine spot of the line-up, while Orf, Taylor, Garfield and Brandon Macias all added two hits each.

The I-95 Rivalry resumes on Thursday night when the Cubs come to Space Coast Stadium with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

Lefty Jed Bradley (3-1, 3.34) is expected to start for Brevard County against Daytona’s Ben Wells (1-2, 4.35).