Double plays Doom Manatees in Loss to Fort Myers

Cody Ponce

After having the series finale against St. Lucie cancelled by rain on Monday and an off day on Tuesday, The Manatees got some great pitching on Wednesday, but the offense struggled when it mattered, hitting into five double plays. The end result was 1-0 loss to the Fort Myers Miracle in game one of the series at Space Coast Stadium.

“We scuffled to get the big knock tonight man,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault. “We had some situations -- bases loaded in the first and first and third nobody out in the eighth, with a missed sign in there, would’ve scored a run. We gotta do the little things to win ballgames.”

Cody Ponce, who has been on the disabled list since April with arm fatigue made the start for Brevard County and pitched very well. Ayrault said on Sunday that Ponce would be on a short leash Wednesday and he was, going two innings in his season debut.

Ponce allowed one hit and had two strikeouts in each inning, finishing the night with four. He did not walk a batter and was consistently hitting 90-93 MPH on his fastball. “The ball was coming out of his hand real good, you could tell he was on those hitters,” said Ayrault. He was real aggressive with his fastball and he’s got a live arm. It was great to see him out there.”

Ponce threw 30 pitches 21 for strikes. Ayrault said that his max was two innings and he stayed under his pitch count they had set for him, which will likely mean he will throw again on three days’ rest. Zack Jones, who is rehabbing a shoulder strain came in and lit it up. He threw one inning and had two strikeouts, hitting 96.8 on the gun with his last pitch. He did walk one batter, throwing 19 pitches, 11 for strikes.

Jon Perrin (0-4) took over on the mound in the fourth and got the first two outs before giving up a single to Edgar Corcino. Chris Paul knocked him in with a double and gave Fort Myers the 1-0 lead. Alex Real followed with a sinking line drive to left that looked like it was ticketed to touch down. Malik Collymore sprinted to the ball, diving and catching it off the top of the grass. “That was a definite run saver and a heck of a play,” said Ayrault. “Off the bat I didn’t think there was any chance of him catching it, but he made a heck of a play and kept us in the game.”

Unfortunately, the run earlier in the inning was all the Miracle would need and that meant Perrin, who pitched a heck of a game was saddled with the loss. “Overall he threw the ball very well tonight,” Ayrault said of Perrin. “It’s tough for him, but hopefully he keeps throwing the ball like that. It was a solid outing for him.”

Perrin pitched the final six innings, allowing just the one run on four hits. He struck out nine of the 15 batters that Manatees pitchers combined to strike out. He threw 80 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Fort Myers starter Tyler Jay threw six innings, allowing seven hits to the Manatees. He was able to make the pitches he needed to make at the right time, He also got some help from his defense in the second inning when Taylor Brennan doubled off the wall in right, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Right fielder Joe Maloney threw a strike directly to third and Brennan was out.

Dustin DeMuth doubled in the third inning with a man on and two down, but with him at second and Angel Ortega at third, Elvis Rubio flew out to end the inning. Couple that with the double plays in the first, second, fourth, eighth and ninth innings… it was just a rough night at the park for the Manatees.

For more info: Fort Myers @ Brevard County boxscore

Ortega was 2-for-2 on Wednesday with two walks. DeMuth was the only other Brevard County player with two hits, going 2-for-3 with a double. Fort Myers was held to five hits.

Eric Hanhold (2-6, 4.01 ERA) will take the mound for the Manatees on Thursday, against Keaton Steele (1-5, 4.72 ERA).  First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 6/8/16