Manatees’ Bullpen Falters in Loss to Tortugas

Jon Perrin

The Daytona Tortugas sent 11 men to the plate in a six-run eighth inning Wednesday night, taking down the visiting Brevard County Manatees 9-2 in game three of their series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Tortugas have now won two in a row, after the ‘Tees took game one on Monday.

Manatees starter Jon Perrin, who was promoted from Wisconsin to Brevard County earlier in the day, was thrown right into the fire and he responded in a big way. He allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings. Three of his four hits allowed came in the second inning, as did the one walk he allowed. He struck out four in an 82 pitch outing, throwing 57 strikes.

The Manatees gave Perrin an early lead with a run in the first inning, against Daytona starter Keury Mella (2-4). Scooter Gennett, in his final rehab game with the Manatees, came up with a one out single. Angel Ortega followed with a single of his own, extending his hit streak to six games. Dustin DeMuth capped it off with an RBI single, plating Gennett. Scooter ended his night 2-for-4 and will return to the Milwaukee lineup Thursday.

The Tortugas answered in the bottom of the second with three hits and an error, resulting in two runs. It may have been worse, but Perrin was able to pick off Jimmy Pickens, who singled to start the inning. Perrin settled down nicely after the inning, not allowing a hit until the fifth, when Jonathan Reynoso hit one to Angel Ortega at short. He struggled with the transfer and was originally given an error on the play. It was later changed.

Mella was just as effective, sending down 11 straight Manatees, before Greg McCall singled with one out in the fifth. Jose Cuas singled and one out later, stole second. He came home on an RBI single by Johnny Davis, tying the game at 2-2. With that hit, Davis extended his on-base streak to 17 games.

Perrin gave up a single in the sixth inning, but struck out the last batter he faced. He gave way to Kender Villegas in the seventh and Chadwick Tromp greeted him with a long blast over the left-center field wall on the first pitch Villegas threw. Just like that, it was 3-2 in favor of the home nine. Villegas got out of the inning, but ran into huge trouble in the eighth.

Blake Trahan singled and one out later, Pickens drew a walk. Avain Rachal singled to left, but Omar Garcia came up throwing and nailed Trahan at the plate. Blake Butler followed with an RBI single and Villegas was done. Brad Kuntz came out of the pen and gave up three consecutive doubles. Villegas was charged with four runs on five hits, in 1.2 innings of work and took the loss. When all was said and done, the Tortugas sent 11 men to the plate and scored six times in the frame.

For more info: Brevard County @ Daytona boxscore

Daytona ended the night with 14 hits with Tromp and Garrett Boulware leading the way, going 3-for-4. They are both catchers by trade and batted seventh and eighth in Wednesday’s lineup. It was a gutsy move by Tortugas manager Eli Marrero, putting both catchers in the lineup, but it paid big dividends. Tromp had four RBIs and Boulware had two. Daytona was 8-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

The series wraps up on Thursday night with Eric Hanhold (0-4, 3.13 ERA) taking the mound for Brevard County. Seth Varner (2-0, 2.66 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Tortugas. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/11/16