Late Run Gives Dunedin Series Sweep in Viera

George Iskenderian called out on a close Play at the Plate on Sunday

Following his complete game on Monday, Jon Perrin pitched well again on Sunday against the Dunedin Blue Jays, but was outdueled by his counterpart Justin Schafer, as the Blue Jays pulled off a 2-1 victory and swept a three-game series from the Manatees at Space Coast Stadium.

Anthony Alford got the Blue Jays going right out of the gate, as he sent the second pitch of the game over the center field wall. In the second inning, Danny Jansen rifled a single back to Perrin. Despite his best efforts to knock it down with the glove, but it got him on the ankle. He attempted to chase after the ball, but went down as soon as he realized Jansen was going to beat it. To his credit, he bounced up moments later on his own and after being looked at by the Manatees staff, he stayed in the game.

Perrin continued to give up hits, but he was able to work in and out of trouble for much of the day. The only 1-2-3 inning that Perrin recorded came in the fifth, but he battled through well, especially considering the early home run. He ended up pitching six innings, allowing one run on eight hits. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter. Of his 88 pitches, 62 were strikes.

“We just couldn’t get him enough run support there,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault. “Other than the first batter, he was dealin’. Mixed his pitches well, had a good sinker, slider working and pitched well.”

Jon Olczak pitched two innings of shutout relief, giving up two hits and striking out four and walking two.

Much like Dunedin did, the Manatees were able to string together some hits, but it took until the sixth inning before they broke through. George Iskenderian singled to start things and went to third on a double by Elvis Rubio. That brought David Denson to the plate. He hit a bouncer to second base that Jorge Flores charged and threw home. Iskenderian got there, but was called out on a close play.

Ayrault took up the argument for Iskenderian at the plate, but both walked away disappointed. “He (the umpire) said he didn’t touch the plate,” said Ayrault. “He definitely touched the plate.” That call would prove very costly, because Blake Allemand would follow with an RBI single. Instead of being up 2-1, the Manatees were tied.

Schafer left after seven innings, allowing nine hits and one run. He struck out three and walked none. He threw 60 of 89 pitches for strikes. Adonys Cardona took over in the eighth.

Jon Perrin

Ayrault called on Brad Kuntz in the ninth and he immediately gave up a single to Alford. Flores sacrificed him to second and he went to third on a Gunnar Heidt fly ball. Needing just one out, Kuntz threw a fastball to Ryan McBroom, scoring Alford with the go-ahead run.

Dusty Isaacs closed things out in the ninth getting the Manatees in order. 

For more info: Dunedin @ Brevard County boxscore

McBroom and Jonathan Davis each went 3-for-5, pacing Dunedin’s 12 hit attack. Allemand went 3-for-4, while Fidel Pena, Iskenderian and Dustin Houle had two hits apiece.

The Manatees hit the road on Monday, to start a three-game series in Lakeland. Please note that all three are afternoon games. Monday (4:00 p.m.), Tuesday (1:00 p.m.) and Wednesday (1:00 p.m.)

Newcomer Phil Bickford will make his first start for the Manatees on Monday, against Spencer Turnbull.

This article originally appeared on 27OutsBaseball.com on 8/7/16