Dunedin Gains Split of Doubleheader with Manatees

Taylor Brennan

After taking game one of Friday’s doubleheader against the Dunedin Blue Jays by the score of 7-5, the Brevard County Manatees were looking to sweep the evening at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Dunedin had a different idea, coming from behind to win 6-2, on the strength of a five-run fifth frame.

Brevard County (11-24) got on the board in the top of the second against Dunedin starter Chris Rowley, who struck out the side one inning earlier. With two down in the inning, Taylor Brennan hit one to left-center that just kept carrying. It carried out of the park and just like that, the Manatees were up 1-0.

The home nine answered back in the bottom of the inning, against Manatees’ starter Angel Ventura, who struggled to keep guys off the bases on Friday. He walked L.B Dantzler to start the inning, but he was erased on a fielders’ choice by D.J. Davis. Ventura looked to have Davis picked off, throwing to first just as Davis left the bag, but somehow Davis slid in safely. That would prove to be big, because Dickie Joe Thon followed with a double, tying thing at 1-1.

Manatees’ center fielder Johnny Davis helped Ventura avoid further trouble in the bottom of the third, with a couple of big plays in what was a Davis-heavy inning. He jumped across Omar Garcia's body, to come up with a leaping catch at the wall, on a ball hit by Jonathan Davis to start the inning. He later robbed J.D. Davis with a nice catch at the wall, with the bases loaded.

Conor Fisk took over on the mound for Dunedin in the top of the fourth and George Iskenderian found the gap on a one out double. Brennan came through one out later, with an RBI single to right, helping the Manatees regain the lead 2-1. 

Angel Ventura went on to pitch the fourth, but did not come out for the fifth. He would get a no decision after giving up one run on four hits, walking three and striking out five. He threw 78 pitches (45 strikes), before giving way to Junior Rincon.

Rincon (0-1) had a forgettable outing to say the least. Jason Leblebijian took him deep with one out in the fifth, sending the ball off the scoreboard in left-center, to tie the game. Ryan McBroom doubled and came home on an RBI single by D.J. Davis, one out later. A 2-run triple by Michael De La Cruz made it 5-2 and David Harris capped the scoring with an RBI single.

For more info: Brevard County @ Dunedin boxscore (game 2)

Angel Ortega went 0-for-3 in the contest for Brevard County, snapping his eight game hitting streak. Johnny Davis did not get a hit, but did draw a walk, keeping his on-base streak alive at 20 straight games. Iskenderian and Brennan both had two hits in game two, accounting for four of the Manatees six hits.

Game three of the series is scheduled for Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Starting pitchers were not made official as of the time this article was published.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/13/16