Manatees Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short Against Clearwater
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| George Iskenderian |
The Threshers were ahead 4-2 and added a run in the top of
the frame on an RBI single from Zach Green. Green singled home Scott Kingery,
who singled with one out in the inning and then stole second and third, setting
up an easy trip home. Green, who had homered in the two previous games in the
series, was 0-for-4 going into the at bat against Manatees reliever Brad Kuntz.
The Manatees got off to a good start against starter Luke
Leftwich, who was making his Clearwater debut. Clint Coulter doubled with one out
in the second and George Iskenderian knocked him in with a single to center and
went to second on the throw. Fidel Pena struck out and Greg McCall popped out,
leaving the Manatees with a 1-0 lead.
After doing the job with his bat in the bottom of the second, Iskenderian did some great glove work in the top of the third. With one out and a runner on second, Scott Kingery hit a ball into short right field that Coulter was charging in on and Iskenderian was going out. Coulter was not going to get there and Iskenderian laid out, making a great diving catch. “That was a run saver there,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault.
The Manatees (23-48, 0-3) added a run in the fourth inning.
Dustin DeMuth started things with an infield single and moved to second on a wild
pitch. He came home on a single by Coulter, upping the lead to 2-0. The
Threshers turned the game around in the top of the fifth, against Manatees
starter Bubba Derby.
Derby (5-5) had four strikeouts through the first four
innings and started the fifth with another. He then proceeded to give up a solo
home run to Cord Sandberg, cutting the lead to 2-1. Austin Bossart followed
with a ground-rule double, his first hit in the Florida State League. Herlis
Rodriguez singled, putting runners at first and third and Carlos Tocci’s single
tied things at two. Kingery’s single gave his team the lead and Mitch Walding
won the battle with Derby after a 17-pitch at bat that resulted in a walk and
loaded the bases.
That was the end of Derby’s night, as he gave way to Junior
Rincon after 4.1 innings pitched and seven hits, five coming in that fifth
inning. Derby allowed three earned runs, struck out five and walked one. He
threw 93 pitches, 63 strikes. Rincon did a great job to kill the rally, as he
struck out Green and Kyle Martin, to get out of the bases loaded jam.
“He did a great job and he earned a promotion to Double-A
too,” said Ayrault of Rincon. “He’s flying out tomorrow. He’s been doing a
great job for us and we’ll definitely miss him. I’m real happy for him.”
Clearwater (42-29, 3-0) did get to Rincon in the sixth with
singles from Sandberg Bossart and Rodriguez, making it 4-2. Their run in the
ninth would prove to be the difference, as the Manatees went down swinging in
the bottom of the frame.
Pena singled and went to third on a single by Jose Cuas one
out later. With runners at the corners, Collymore doubled down the left field
line, making it 5-3. Blake Allemand came up and drove one to left that looked
for all the world like it was going to be a hit, but Sandberg made a great
diving catch. The run did score from third, but the catch also saved a run.
“Sandberg definitely save the game there for them,” said
Ayrault. “That was a heck of a catch, otherwise we’re maybe playing extras. It
was great to see the guys battle and give us a chance there in the last
inning.” DeMuth was the last hope for the Manatees, but his hard hit ball found
Sandberg’s glove as well, ending the game.
For more info: Clearwater
@ Brevard County boxscore
Brevard County takes the show on the road Sunday, against
the Tampa Yankees. Eric Hanhold (2-8, 4.68 ERA) will face Tampa’s Josh Rogers
(4-3, 3.75 ERA) in a 5:00 p.m. contest.
This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 6/26/16
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