Palm Beach Defeats Brevard Manatees 3-1, Nielsen Throws Seven Scoreless Innings
By Brevard County Manatees // July 29, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Palm Beach Cardinals (22-9, 54-47 overall) continued to display their strength in starting pitching and timely hitting Tuesday night in a 3-1 win over the Brevard County Manatees (14-16, 43-56 overall) at Space Coast Stadium.
Palm Beach made the most of a Manatee mistake in the bottom in the fourth as Luke Voit reached base with one out as a would-be flyout was ruled as catcher’s interference by Rafael Neda. Voit then moved to third on a double down the left field.
Carson Kelly then fouled out on a ball that went deep enough down the right field line that allowed Voit to sprint home with the game’s first run.
Robelys Reyes led off the following inning with an infield single that was knocked down in the hole by Angel Ortega.
After C.J. McElroy lined out to first, Danny Diekroeger hit into a potential double play ball but Chris McFarland bobbled the ball as he attempted to throw to second base, putting two on for Brett Wiley.
Wiley brought home Reyes with a base hit to right and moved Diekroeger over to third in the process. Collin Radack would bring him home shortly after that on a sacrifice fly to deep center.
The Manatees’ best chance to come back came in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Lee Stoppelman.
The rally started with a two-out walk to Jose Pena, followed by a base hit to right by Ortega. Omar Garcia then got the Manatees on the board with a double down the left field line to score Pena and move Ortega to third, chasing Stoppelman in the process.
Josh Lucas would be called upon to put out the fire and he did just that, striking out McFarland to end the inning.
Brevard County’s last gasp came with two out in the bottom of the ninth on a Brennan single off of Lucas. He would move to second on a wild pitch but Michael Ratterree popped up to Reyes at short to end the ballgame.
Trey Nielsen was outstanding to earn his ninth win of the season for the Cardinals, throwing seven shutout innings, giving up just four hits and walking none. Offensively, Wiley’s three-hit game carried the night.
Wei-Chung Wang pitched better than the result for the ‘Tees, giving up three unearned runs on six hits in six innings, striking out three and walking none. McFarland and Neda each recorded multi-hit games.
Garrett Cooper’s streak of consecutive games was ended at 12 thanks to an 0-for-4 night at the plate.
The series concludes tomorrow night as RHP Javi Salas (7-6, 3.44 ERA) takes to the mound against RHP Nick Petree (2-2, 3.67 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M.
