Lakeland Takes Series Opener from Manatees
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| Mitch Ghelfi & Wendell Rijo |
The Brevard County Manatees amassed 14 hits on Tuesday, but
came up on the short end of an 8-5 score in the series opener against visiting
Lakeland. The 1,079 fans in attendance were treated to a lot of offense, as the
teams combined for 25 hits.
“We spread the hits out,” said Manatees skipper Joe Ayrault.
“The guys have definitely been swinging the bats better, just gotta come
through with the big hits and do a better job on the defensive side and with
the pitching.”
Manatees starter Cody Ponce got through the first inning
unscathed and got some offensive help in the bottom of the first, with Mitch
Ghelfi, Blake Allemand Elvis Rubio and David Denson hitting consecutive singles
with one out in the bottom of the first. Rubio’s knock resulted in an RBI and
Wendell Rijo followed the Denson single with an RBI ground out, giving the
Manatees a 2-0 lead.
Lakeland came back in the top of the second inning, loading
the bases immediately. Ben Verlander got his 4-for-4 night off on the right
foot, as he drove a ground-rule double to left scoring two. Ponce then got Drew
Longley to strike out, but the pitch went to the backstop, allowing Zac
Shepherd to score the third run.
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| Dustin Houle |
Brevard County (14-38, 37-83) kept their hit parade going in
the bottom of the second with Malik Collymore, Corey Ray and Ghelfi all getting
base hits. Ghelfi brought Collymore around on his hit and just like that, the
game was tied at three. Lakeland starter Endrys Briceno settled down, striking
out Allemand, Rubio and Denson, ensuring the Manatees would not do any further
damage in the inning.
Lakeland came right back with a run in the top of the third.
A.J. Simcox doubled and later scored on a Ross Kivett double play ball, making
it a 4-3 game. Verlander struck again in the top of the fourth, leading off
with another double. He came home on Rashad Brown’s triple, giving the visitors
a 5-3 lead. Garrett Mattlage added an RBI double of his own, doubling up the
Manatees 6-3.
Ponce (2-5) lasted just one more inning, giving up seven
hits, six runs (five earned), walking two and striking out three. He threw 74
pitches, 49 for strikes. It was just one of those nights where everything Ponce
threw was hit hard.
“They were attacking early and taking advantage of some
balls left up in the zone,” said Ayrault.
Lakeland added two more runs in the seventh against Kender
Villegas, who took over for Ponce in the fifth. Wade Hinkle doubled to start it
and rode home on Kivett’s double. Verlander didn’t want to be left out, so he
followed one out later with his third consecutive double, giving the Flying
Tigers an 8-3 lead.
Of the 11 hits Lakeland had, 10 were for extra bases. Of those
10, nine were doubles.
The Manatees made a game of it late, scoring a run in the
bottom of the seventh and one more in the
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| Wendell Rijo |
The Manatees mounted a two out rally in the ninth, with a
Rijo double and an RBI single by Houle, making it 8-5. Santiago Garrido was brought in from the
Lakeland bullpen and he got Malik Collymore to fly out, ending the game.
“These guys never quit man,” said Ayrault. “They get after
it and play hard till it’s done.”
For more info: Lakeland
@ Brevard County boxscore
Game notes: In an
odd twist, Kade Scivique was in the original Lakeland starting lineup, as the
designated hitter. That changed, as the managers exchanged lineups at home
plate, because Scivique had just been traded to the Atlanta Braves, about a
half hour before the start of the game.
Injury update: Third baseman George Iskenderian (left wrist
injury) was put on the DL prior to Tuesday’s game. Brandon Diaz has been called
up to take his roster spot.
This series continues Wednesday, with Kodi Medeiros scheduled
to take the mound for the Manatees. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
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