Brevard Manatees Come Thru In Extra Innings, Defeat Lakeland 4-2
By Brevard County Manatees // April 28, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Garrett Cooper’s two-run single in the top of the 13th inning led the Brevard County Manatees (9-9) to a 4-2 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (7-12) on Monday Night at Joker Marchant Stadium.
With the score tied at two, Clint Coulter led off the top of the 13th with a double to left field against Montreal Robertson (1-3, 6.55 ERA).
The next batter, Victor Roache, reached on a fielding error by the CF Jiwan James to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Cooper then delivered with a clutch, two-RBI single to left to give the Manatees a two-run cushion.
Tristian Archer was summoned from the Brevard County bullpen to try to close the game out. He struck out Grayson Greiner and retired Ben Verlander on a pop out to start the inning.
Raph Rhymes and Francisco Martinez then singled consecutively.
With runners on first and second, James flied out to left field to end the ballgame. Archer recorded his first save of the season.
Lakeland forced extra innings by plating a run in the bottom of the ninth against Kaleb Earls. Both Martinez and James singled with one out to put runners on first and second. Javier Betancourt singled to left to score Martinez and tie the game. Earls retired the next two batters and forced extras.
The Flying Tigers originally opened the scoring on a two-out RBI double by Curt Powell in the bottom of the third.
The Manatees responded immediately with a run in the fourth. With one out, Taylor Brennan reached second on a throwing error by Powell. After Coulter flied out, Victor Roache smacked an RBI single to left field to tie the game.
Brevard County took the lead in the next frame. Cooper singled to center to start the fifth inning. Paul Eshleman moved Cooper to second on a grounder. After Angel Ortega walked, Steven Halcomb slapped a single into right field. Cooper scored from second and the Manatees led, 2-1.
Tyler Spurlin (1-0, 1.00 ERA) was credited with the win. He pitched three no-hit, scoreless innings from the 10th to the 12th. The Flying Tigers had just one base runner against Spurlin, a one-out walk in the 10th.
Brevard County starter Brandon Woodruff did not factor into the decision. He allowed just one run on six hits over five innings. The righty walked three and struck out one batter.
Steven Peterson tossed 2.1 shutout relief innings behind Woodruff.
Peterson surrendered a hit and two walks. He fanned one batter. Earls gave up just the one run over 1.2 innings, despite four hits allowed.
Ryan Longstreth, the Lakeland starter, lasted six innings and allowed two runs – one earned. He gave up six hits and walked one. Longstreth struck out five men.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game series tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. Javi Salas (1-2, 1.35 ERA) will get the start for the Manatees. The Flying Tigers will send Tommy Collier (2-0, 1.00 ERA) to the hill.
