Brevard Manatees Win Home Opener 8-1 Against Daytona
By Brevard County Manatees // April 11, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – It was a picture perfect home opener for the Brevard County Manatees on Friday night, getting key contributions on both sides, as the Manatees cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Daytona Tortugas.
The standout performance for the ‘Tees came from their starting pitcher, Wei-Chung Wang. The 22-year-old left-hander, solidified as a starter in Brevard after spending most of last season as a reliever in Milwaukee, was in command after escaping a first inning jam with two runners on.
Wang went on to retire nine straight batters between the second and fourth innings.
With a sharp fastball and plenty of movement on his breaking balls throughout the night, Wang threw six innings of shutout ball, giving up five hits and walking two, while striking out six.
As they did on Thursday night, the Manatees once again took the lead early, this time keeping it for good. Johnny Davis took a leadoff walk in the first and then promptly stole second.
Chris McFarland doubled on a ball to short center to bring home Davis and put Brevard County in front. Clint Coulter flew out to center, moving McFarland over to third, leading to Taylor Brennan’s second sacrifice fly in as many nights and a 2-0 lead.
The top of the order would be responsible for the action once again in the third inning.
This time Davis bunted his way on, and went to third on another McFarland double.
After strikeouts by Coulter and Brennan, Victor Roache recorded his first hit of the season, a two-run single to left center to make it 4-0.
The Manatees would put the game away for good in the fifth, starting with a one-out solo home run to left by Coulter, the first of the season for the team. Brennan then walked, and would go on to score from first on a double to left by Garrett Cooper.
Brandon Macias then followed with an RBI single to right center to plate Cooper and extend the lead to 7-0. Macias was caught in a rundown to end the inning.
The Tortugas would avoid the shutout in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI groundout from Sammy Diaz, but as the night tended to go, Brevard County got it right back in the bottom of the frame McFarland delivered an RBI single to bring home Davis for the final score.
After mustering just two hits on Thursday, the Manatees broke out for 13 on Friday, led by a 3-for-5 night by McFarland, and multi-hit nights for Davis, Roache, Cooper and Rafael Neda. The final tally also showed six extra-base hits and a stolen base.
The two teams have split the first two games of their season-opening four-game set so far, and will resume tomorrow night in Daytona Beach at 7:05 P.M.
Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 0.00) will be on the mound for his first start in a Manatee uniform.
He will be opposed by left-hander Amir Garrett (0-0, 0.00).
