Fort Myers Sweeps Brevard County in Friday doubleheader

Fidel Pena

The Brevard County Manatees and Fort Myers Miracle played two at Space Coast Stadium on Friday and unfortunately for the home team, runs were again hard to come by. The Manatees scored one run in 14 innings of baseball, dropping game one 4-1 and game two, 2-0. All seven of the combined runs came in the first inning of each game.

Eric Hanhold has pitched better than his 2-7 record would indicate, but his tough luck continued in game one, as Fort Myers scored all their runs right out of the gate.  Joe Maloney and Edgar Corcino hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with two outs. Chris Paul followed with a line drive to center, knocking home the first two runs.

Alex Perez and Logan Wade followed with RBI singles of their own, before Hanhold got Brian Olson to ground out, ending the inning. The Miracle sent nine men to the plate, picking up six hits and plating four runs. “They found the holes and put up the four runs,” said Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault. “It was a tough one for Hanhold, but he locked it in after that.”

The Manatees got one run back in the bottom of the frame, against Fort Myers starter Keaton Steele. Dustin DeMuth, Elvis Rubio and Fidel Pena hit consecutive singles, with Pena’s being good for the RBI and getting the Manatees on the board, at 4-1.

DeMuth left the game in the fifth inning after fouling a ball off his right foot. He stayed down for a couple minutes, before grounding out to finish his at bat. He hobbled down the line and then to the dugout, before being replaced in the top of the sixth, by Taylor Brennan. No update was immediately available on the extent of his injury.

The Miracle out hit the Manatees 10-7 in game one, but neither team would scratch across another run. Hanhold went five innings with all four of his runs being earned. He walked two and struck out three, throwing 45 of his 77 pitches for strikes.

MLB rehabber Zack Jones pitched the final two innings for the Manatees, allowing one hit and striking out two. He has yet to allow a run in his two appearances with the Manatees. Friday was the first hit he allowed in his three innings of combined work. Jones threw 23 pitches, 16 for strikes. “He was very impressive in his outing,” said Ayrault of Jones. “It was good to see and he said he felt good after, with plus-stuff.”

Steele (2-5) got the win for the Miracle, giving up six hits and striking out five. John Curtiss pitched the sixth inning and Nick Anderson picked up his first save of the season with a hitless seventh frame.

For more info: Fort Myers @ Brevard County boxscore (Game 1)

It was Derby Day in game two, as Bubba Derby took the hill for the Manatees. He pitched very well and definitely deserved a better fate, but he was outdueled by Fort Myers starter Felix Jorge, who threw a complete game three-hitter. “Jorge threw the ball very well and mixed in a plus-slider and a good fastball,” said Ayrault. “It was a good one for him, tip your hat to him.”

Derby (5-4) walked Corcino to start the fourth inning and an error one out later, by George Iskenderian allowed T.J. White to reach.

The two-base error put him at second and moved Corcino to third. Maloney knocked them in with a solid double to left. That was all the run support Jorge would need. “Our offense just couldn’t get rolling against him,” said Ayrault.

Bubba Derby

While the Manatees managed three hits, the Miracle put up four for the game, three against Derby. “He threw the ball well, he really did,” said Ayrault of his starter. Derby threw 94 pitches, 62 for strikes, while Jorge threw a very economical 77 pitches in seven innings. 63 of those were strikes. He struck out eight Brevard County hitters.

Jon Olczak took the hill for the Manatees in the sixth, throwing two solid innings in relief of Derby. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out three, throwing 22 of his 34 pitches for strikes.

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

Game notes: Manatees’ center fielder Johnny Davis was called up to Double-A Biloxi prior to Friday’s game. His spot on the roster was taken by Brandon Diaz. “Johnny getting sent up is great for him,” said Ayrault. “It’s a definite loss for our squad, energy-level wise, leadoff wise and how he’s played center, so we’re gonna have to have our guys step up and get rollin’. We gotta fill those shoes and go.”

Ayrault was very happy for Davis, adding “I’m real excited for him and I hope he continues his success in Double-A. Coming off an injury, we knew that he was gonna come back here to refine his tools. He’s come a long way from where he was two years ago to where he is now, baseball experience wise.”

The series with Fort Myers wraps up Saturday evening. Angel Ventura (1-3, 3.95 ERA) will start for Brevard County, against Randy Rosario (2-5, 3.76 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 6/10/16