Brevard Manatees Drop Season Opener To Daytona 5-1
By Brevard County Manatees // April 10, 2015
Daytona belted two home runs
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees certainly hope that Opening Night will be the exception and not the norm for the 2015 season.
The Daytona Tortugas hope it will be a sign of things to come for the new franchise.
The Tortugas used 6.2 innings of 1-hit ball from Nick Travieso and a pair of home runs to cruise to a 5-1 win over the Manatees on Thursday Night at Radiology Associates Field.
The initial proceedings signaled a good night for the ‘Tees as Johnny Davis got on base to lead off the game following a dropped 3rd strike.
After Chris McFarland flew out to right, Clint Coulter reached after being hit on the first pitch of the at-bat. Davis and Coulter then successfully attempted a double steal, leading to a sacrifice fly by Taylor Brennan to put Brevard County in front in the opening frame without the benefit of a base hit.
The lead would be short-lived as Sebastian Elizalde hit a leadoff home run over the wall in right center to bring Daytona level.
With 2 outs, Chad Wallach singled to keep the inning going, setting the stage for Robert Ramirez. Ramirez hit a triple off of the wall in right, bringing Wallach all the way around to score and give the ‘Tugas a lead that they would not relinquish.
Taylor Sparks reached on an infield single to start the 4th inning and later came in to score on a Carlton Daal groundout to make it 3-1 Daytona. The final score would come in the 7th as Phillip Ervin launched a long 2-run homer to bump the lead to 5-1.
The story of the night, however, would be the masterful performance by the 21 year old Travieso.
The reigning Pitcher Of The Year in the Reds’ system retired 16 straight batters following Cameron Garfield’s 1-out double in the 2nd. The right-hander would be lifted following 2-out walk to Garrett Cooper in the 7th.
For the evening, Travieso went 6 2/3 innings, giving up just 1 run and 1 hit, walked 1 and struck out 5.
The Manatees tried to mount a rally in the 9th as Chris McFarland hit leadoff double off of Jimmy Moran, followed by a walk to Coulter. Moran would induce a groundout by Brennan, advancing the runners before giving way to Evan Mitchell.
Mitchell would strike out Victor Roache and Garrett Cooper to end the game.
Hiram Burgos, rehabbing from a right shoulder impingement that ended his 2014 season after just 4 starts, pitched 5 innings, giving up 7 hits and 3 runs, walking 2 and striking out 5.
The season-opening 4-game series between the teams continues tomorrow at Space Coast Stadium in Viera at 6:35 P.M.
LHP Wei-Chung Wang (0-0, 0.00) will take the ball for Brevard County, he will be opposed by RHP Sal Romano (0-0, 0.00).
