Four-run Fifth Keys Manatees Victory Over Clearwater

Bubba Derby

The Brevard County Manatees started their six-game homestand on a positive note Tuesday night, beating the Clearwater Threshers 6-4 at Space Coast Stadium. 

“It was a fun night overall,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault. “Guys played good on the defensive side and turned a few double plays in the ballgame, it was a good night.” 

Those double plays were key in helping Manatees starter Bubba Derby get out of trouble. He allowed back-to-back singles to Scott Kingery and Andrew Pullin to start the game. After getting Carlos Tocci to fly out, he induced a double play grounder off the bat of Kyle Martin.

Johnny Davis, as he’s done for most of the season got the Manatees off on the right foot with a walk in the bottom of the first. The free pass extended Davis’ on-base streak to 30 consecutive games. “He’s been doing a great job,” Ayrault said of Davis. “Putting the ball in play, working deep in counts and taking his walks. It was good to see him tonight, have his little slash bunt Ichiro style (fifth inning), squared to bunt pulled it back and chopped one over third for a hit. He’s got great hand-eye coordination and utilizes his wheels.”

Angel Ortega followed and reached on an error by Kingery at second, putting runners at the corners. Ortega decided to steal second against Threshers starter Shane Watson. It was a good decision, as catcher Gabriel Lino rushed his throw and it couldn’t be handled at second. The error allowed Davis to score the first run of the night, without a hit. 

Derby (4-2) worked in and out of trouble again in the second, hitting Zach Green with a pitch and gave up a double to Mitch Walding. After getting an out on a groundball, Cord Sandberg lined one back to Derby on the mound. He made the catch, likely in self-defense and alertly threw to third to get his second consecutive inning-ending double play. Derby would get another twin-killing in the fourth, after a walk to Tocci and a single to Green.

The fifth inning was the decisive one for the home nine on this night. Malik Collymore started the frame with a single, his first hit in the Florida State League. Davis then hit the single that Ayrault described earlier and Ortega’s sac bunt moved both runners up. Dustin DeMuth then shot a two-run double to left, making it 3-0. 

Newcomer Adam Weisenburger, who just came off the DL at Triple-A Colorado Springs, got a hit on a swinging bunt toward third. Fidel Pena followed with an RBI groundout and the final run came on an Elvis Rubio RBI single. Rubio finished his night, 2-for-4.

Weisenburger went 2-for-3 Tuesday night, with a walk and a run scored. “He’s a veteran catcher and does a great job handling the pitching staff,” said Ayrault of Weisenburger, who last played with the Manatees in 2012, appearing in 23 games. “He gives you quality AB’s and we’re glad to have him right now.”

Derby worked into the sixth, giving up a double to Pullin and a walk to Tocci, before giving up an RBI single to Martin and a sac fly to Green, making it 5-2. He walked Walding, prompting a pitching change. Gage Smith was called on to get the last two outs and he did just that. “He did a real good job,” said Ayrault of Gage Smith. “Coming in side-arm with that deception, he threw an exceptional slider. He did a nice job.”

Brevard County (15-30) got one run back in the bottom of the inning, on a weird sequence. Jose Cuas and Collymore walked to start the inning against reliever Matt Hockenberry. A groundout by Davis moved both runners up to second and third. Ortega then hit into a fielders’ choice, Cuas was out at the plate. Collymore got to third on the play and he scored when Ortega took off for second, on a double steal. Ortega stayed in the rundown long enough for the run to cross, giving the Manatees a 6-2 lead.

Major League rehabber, Will Smith came on to pitch the seventh, giving up one hit and striking out one, before giving way to Junior Rincon in the eighth. Rincon got through the eighth, before running into trouble in the ninth. He walked Malquin Canelo with one out and gave up an RBI double to Kingery, cutting the lead in half, 6-3. One out later, Tocci singled Kingery home and Ayrault was forced to bring in Jon Olczak, with two down and the tying run coming to the plate. Olczak did his job, getting Martin to swing at a ball in the dirt. Weisenburger completed the strikeout with a throw to first and with that, the Manatees got a much needed win against a team that came into the game with a 27-17 record.

For more info: Clearwater @ Brevard County boxscore

On the injury front, Infielder George Iskenderian was put on the DL Tuesday, making room for Weisenburger to be added to the roster. Ayrault said right fielder Clint Coulter “Should be getting close. We have a live BP tomorrow and we’ll get him back in there and see how he feels.”

The series continues Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. with Angel Ventura (0-2, 3.34 ERA) taking the mound for Brevard County against Ranfi Casimiro (5-2, 3.35 ERA).

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/24/16