Villegas’ Stellar Performance Gives Manatees Series Win
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| Kender Villegas |
Kodi Medeiros was the starting pitcher for the ‘Tees on
Sunday, but he went just two innings, before leaving with an apparent injury.
He covered the first base bag and recorded an out on a ball hit by L.B.
Dantzler in the bottom of the second. He finished the inning, but did not come
out of the dugout for the third. Medeiros gave up two hits, walked two and
struck out two, in his short stint. He threw 42 pitches, 23 for strikes.
Kender
Villegas took over for Brevard County and got through the third, before
running into trouble in the fourth. Jason Leblebijian and Dantzler hit
back-to-back singles and Jonathan Davis laid down a bunt, that Villegas
fielded. He bluffed and then threw to third, where Jose Cuas caught the ball,
but was short of the bag, loading the bases. Emilio Guerrero’s fielders’ choice
scored Leblebijian and made it 1-0. With the bases still loaded, Mike Reeves
RBI single to right, gave them a 2-0 lead and then things got interesting.
MLB-rehabber Devon Travis flew into foul territory at third
Cuas made the play, but fell down after running into the tarp. Guerrero and
Reeves both tagged when Cuas fell and Guerrero scored. Reeves decided to see if
he could make it to third, but Cuas got back to his feet and threw Reeves out
at the plate. The Blue Jays didn’t agree with the call at third, but it turned
into a double play, despite the Jays’ upping their lead to 3-0. Just your
average every day 5-2-5 out to end the frame.
Taylor Brennan helped the Manatees get a run back in the
fifth. He drew a four-pitch walk and went to second on a balk by Dunedin
starter Conner Greene. Gregory McCall flew out, moving Brennan to third and he
came home when Cuas reached on a throwing error by Leblebijian at third. That
pulled the visitors within two, 3-1.
Villegas (2-4) settled in nicely and ended up giving his
team three more innings of scoreless relief. He did not allow a hit after that
fourth inning. He walked three and struck out three, after being pushed into
unexpected long relief. It was a great outing and key to the outcome. Villegas
threw 57 pitches, 33 for strikes.
Brevard County (13-24) got another run in the sixth when
McCall knocked home Dustin DeMuth on a single to right. DeMuth was hit by a
pitch earlier in the inning. That would end the day for Greene, who left after
5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out two,
throwing 89 pitches, 56 for strikes. Reliever Alonzo Gonzalez got the final out
of the inning, but trouble found him to start the seventh.
Omar
Garcia singled and stole second, his fifth of the season. Brandon Diaz
singled to right and rounded the bag at first, getting caught in an intentional
rundown. While that was going on, Garcia broke for the plate and the throw was
late there. Diaz was safe at second and the game was tied at three. Johnny
Davis followed with a bunt back to the mound, the throw pulled Dantzler off the
bag and allowed Diaz to score the lead run. Davis would later get picked off
and after Angel Ortega flew out, DeMuth singled and later scored on a Fidel
Pena RBI single.
Clint Terry came in to pitch the final three innings for the
Manatees and earn his first save of the season. He allowed only a ninth inning
single to Dantzler. It was the first baserunner for Dunedin, since the RBI single
by Reeves in the fourth.
For more info: Brevard
County @ Dunedin boxscore
The bottom of the order, specifically Garcia in the eight
spot and Diaz in the nine hole, were both 2-for-4. They had half of the
Manatees eight hits. Dantzler was the only Dunedin player to have two hits.
Brevard County returns home Monday night to start a
four-game series against Bradenton at 6:35 p.m. Jon Perrin 0-0, 1.50) who pitched six innings in
his first start last Wednesday, after being called up from Wisconsin earlier in
the day, will likely take the ball. He will be opposed by Colten Brewer (1-5,
4.36 ERA).
Dunedin stays home and will welcome Fort Myers in on Monday.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/15/16
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