Woodruff Stymies Daytona Offense in 8-3 Win

Angel Ortega

Brandon Woodruff has been the Brevard County Manatees saving grace on the mound this season and he continued that trend on Monday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, holding the Daytona Tortugas three hits in six innings of work as the visiting Sea Cows took home an 8-3 victory. 

The Tortugas (12-18) did not help themselves on defense, committing a season-high five errors. The home team was forced to use six hurlers, who combined to give up 11 hits to the Manatees.

The trouble started early for starter Ismael Guillon. Omar Garcia walked with one out in the third and Johnny Davis drew a walk, bringing Angel Ortega to the plate. He proceeded to take Guillon deep and out to left-center. With that, the Manatees led 3-0. 

It was the first home run for Ortega since 2014 his first in the Florida State League. Guillon (1-2) who was making his first start since 2014, finished the inning. He was on a pitch count between 60-70, according to the Daytona broadcasters. He threw 58 pitches in three innings of work, allowing two hits and three runs. He struck out four and walked three.

Daytona got a run back in the bottom of the inning, when Ty Washington tripled off Brevard County starter Brandon Woodruff. He came home on an RBI sac fly by Jonathan Reynoso. The Manatees answered quickly in the top of the fourth, with two more runs. Dustin Houle reached on an error with one out. Elvis Rubio singled up the middle and Reynoso misplayed the ball in center. It rolled all the way to the wall, allowing both runs to score. Rubio got credit for a single, with both runs scoring on the error. That gave Brevard County a 5-1 lead.

Brandon Woodruff

Woodruff (3-1) got the first two outs in the fifth, before giving up back-to-back singles to Washington and Reynoso. Washington stole second, just as Woodruff uncorked a wild pitch. Houle retrieved the ball and threw to Woodruff covering home. He couldn’t make the play, allowing the run to score and cutting the lead to three. Reynoso moved to third on the play and was stranded there. 

Woodruff would leave after six, giving up three hits, two earned runs and walking one. He struck out nine, including striking out two of three in his final inning. He threw 86 pitches, 62 for strikes. Josh Uhen would take over and throw two innings for the ‘Tees. He allowed two hits and struck out two.

Brevard County (9-21) added single runs in the sixth and seventh. Taylor Brennan had an RBI single in the sixth and Angel Ortega plated Davis with a single in the seventh, giving the visitors a 7-2 lead. 

Houle drove in the final Manatees’ run of the night with a bases loaded single, scoring Davis. Dustin DeMuth tried to score behind him, but was thrown out by right fielder Aristides Aquino.   

Jon Olczak took over for Uhen in the bottom of the ninth and he gave up a leadoff home run to Brian O’Grady. Olczak bounced back nicely, getting the next three outs. He struck out Blake Butler to end the game.

For more info: Brevard County @ Daytona boxscore

Ortega drove in four runs for the Manatees on Monday. He had two hits, as did Davis, Houle and Rubio. The only multi-hit game for the Tortugas, came from Washington. 

In roster news, Omar Garcia returned from the disabled list on Monday, while Clint Coulter began his DL stint. He is dealing with an oblique issue, according to Manatees manager Joe Ayrault. It is not clear how long he will be out.

Game two of the series happens Tuesday at Space Coast Stadium. Tyler Mahle (2-2, 3.21) will start for Daytona. He got the start opening night against Brevard County, but did not factor in the decision. He will be opposed by Kodi Medeiros (2-3, 7.77 ERA).

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with the Manatees that will see him play Tuesday at Space Coast Stadium and then Wednesday, back in Daytona.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/9/16