Brevard Manatees Drop Season Finale To Daytona Tortugas 1-0
By Brevard County Manatees // September 8, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – As they so often have this season, the Daytona Tortugas (40-25, 77-58 overall) rode an excellent performance from their pitching staff to earn a 1-0 win over the Brevard County Manatees (26-40, 55-80 overall) Sunday at Radiology Associates Field.
The game’s lone run would come in the bottom of the fifth inning against Brandon Woodruff, who had just come in from the bullpen. Taylor Sparks drew a leadoff walk and would be held up at third on a Jeff Gelalich double to left center.
However, as Michael Ratterree’s throw went to second base with no one immediately covering the bag, Sparks sprinted home to put the Tortugas.
That one run would be more than enough as Daytona starting pitch Seth Varner was exceptional. He retired the first 20 Manatee hitters he faced with the first baserunner coming on a two-out single in the top of the seventh from Clint Coulter, hit just beyond the reach of a diving Blake Trahan at shortstop. Varner finished with 10 strikeouts and no walks in seven innings, giving up only the one hit.
Nolan Becker retired all three Manatees he faced in the eighth and Evan Mitchell escaped trouble in the ninth by inducing Chris McFarland into a 3-6-1 double play to end the ninth and record his eighth save of the season.
While coming up on the short end of the result, the Manatees also received excellent efforts from the pitching staff. Javi Salas threw four shutout innings to start, giving up two hits while striking out four and walking one.
Woodruff followed with four strong innings of his own, giving up one run on one hit, striking out five and walking two.
