Ford, Pitching Carry Yankees In Brevard Manatees Series Opener

Brevard Manatees fall to 6-20, 45-60 overall

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Tampa Yankees (18-20, 52-56 overall) rode the strength of two pitchers Monday night to a 4-3 win over the Brevard County Manatees (16-20, 45-60 overall) at Space Coast Stadium.

The Yankees would take the lead for good in the game’s opening frame against Manatee starting pitcher Javi Salas.

As would be the theme of their night, the rally started with two out as Dustin Fowler base hit to right. Mike Ford then hit a double down the right field line and with Fowler running on a 3-2 pitch, he was able to score all the way from first to give Tampa the lead.

Miguel Andujar followed with a single to center to bring home Ford. Salas would stop the bleeding by getting Jake Skole to ground out to first.

More two-out fortune would come Tampa’s way in the top of the third. Tyler Wade led off the inning with a walk but would be erased on a fielder’s choice by Abiatal Avelino.

He would then swipe second for his 30^th stolen base of the season with Fowler at the plate, who would then move him to third on a groundout. Ford continued his banner night at the plate by blasting a 405-foot two-run home run, his second of the season, to make it 4-0.

The ‘Tees opened their account in the bottom of the fourth against Yankees starting pitcher Cale Coshow, starting with a one-out double to right by Clint Coulter. Garrett Cooper then hit a floater down the right field line that stayed fair to score Coulter and give Cooper his 28^th two-bagger of the season.

Coshow would limit the damage to just that by striking out Taylor Brennan and inducing flyout from Robinzon Diaz.

Brevard County had a chance to draw even in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Gabe Encinas. Cooper reached on an Avelino throwing error to start the inning and then moved up 90 feet when Brennan walked. Following a Diaz flyout, Michael Ratterree drew a free pass to load the bases. Encinas recovered admirably to strike out Dustin Houle and Angel Ortega to end the inning.

The Manatees displayed some fight in the bottom of the ninth against Encinas once again with the inning being ignited by a Cooper leadoff base hit to right. He would be pulled for pinch-runner Steven Halcomb, who advanced to second when Brennan walked.

Diaz then ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Halcomb for his first RBI as a Manatee. Brennan would come in to score as Andujar made a diving stop on a grounder to retire Ratterree.

As the tying run remained at second, Encinas made quick work of a Houle on a strikeout and when Ortega grounded out to third, he earned the 12-out save, his first of the season.

Coshow earned his seventh win of the season by giving up just one run on four hits in five innings, striking out four and walking none.

The two runs on two hits in the ninth were all that Encinas gave up in four innings of work, during which he struck out six and walked three. Ford recorded the lone multi-hit game for the Yankees.

Salas lasted just four innings, giving up four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one in 89 pitches.

Brandon Woodruff was terrific in relief, throwing four shutout innings during which he gave up just one hit. Coulter and Diaz had multi-hit games on the offensive side for Brevard County.

The series continues on Wednesday night as RHP Jorge Ortega (8-7, 2.35 ERA) takes the ball against LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-4, 3.38 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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