Ninth Inning Rally Carries Manatees to win Over Tampa

Eric Hanhold
Eric Hanhold

Eric Hanhold pitched a season-high 6.2 innings for the Brevard County Manatees on Sunday and the offense rallied with a three-run ninth inning, helping the Manatees beat Tampa 4-2, in the series finale at George M. Steinbrenner Field. With the victory, the Manatees took two of three in the series, from the Advanced-A bombers.

Hanhold ran into some tough luck in the first inning, as the Yankees scored both of their runs. He started the game by striking out Jorge Mateo, who reached first when Dustin Houle had trouble with the third strike pitch and threw the ball wildly to first. Mark Payton followed with a single that was bobbled by Johnny Davis in center, allowing him to move to second. Mateo scored on a single by Billy Fleming and a sacrifice fly by Abiatal Avelino, made it 2-0.

Brevard County (6-18) answered with a run in the second inning against Josh Rogers, who was making his Tampa Yankees debut. Fidel Pena doubled with one out and went to third on Houle’s single. Taylor Brennan knocked Pena in with a single to left. For Brennan, it was his fifth RBI of the season and cut the Yanks lead to 2-1.

The Manatees did threaten in the next few innings, getting runners to second in the fifth and sixth and a runner to third in the seventh, but Rogers was able to navigate through trouble. Hanhold did well to keep his team in the game, getting the first two outs in the seventh inning before another error by Houle when he made an errant throw to first trying to get Michael O’Neill out on a bunt single. The error spelled the end of Hanhold’s evening, but Brad Kuntz came on to get the final out. He ended up getting the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief that included two strikeouts.

Hanhold, who pitched 5.2 innings in three of his last four starts did a great job Sunday, striking out seven batters and walking only one. He threw 77 pitches (55 strikes) and both of the runs Tampa scored against him were unearned. Rogers deserves a tip of the cap as well, going eight innings for the T-Yanks, allowing one run on eight hits, walking one and striking out nine. Neither starter would factor into the decision, thanks to a wild top of the ninth inning.

Yankees’ closer Matt Marsh (BS, 0-1) got Dustin Houle to ground out. Brennan struck out, but got to first on the third strike wild pitch. Dustin DeMuth pinch-hit for Jose Cuas and his single put runners at first and second. Brandon Diaz followed with a single to left and Payton came up throwing. His throw beat Brennan and he was initially called out, but catcher Santiago Nessy couldn’t hold on to the ball and the game was tied at two.

Johnny Davis
Johnny Davis
A single by Davis loaded the bases and Marsh uncorked a wild pitch, with Angel Ortega at the plate and DeMuth scored, giving the Manatees a 3-2 lead. Ortega’s RBI ground out made it a 4-2 game and Tyler Spurlin came on to close things out in the bottom of the frame. For Spurlin, it was his fourth save of the season.

For more info: Brevard County @ Tampa boxscore

Davis led the Manatees’ 11-hit attack with a 3-for-5 showing. He has been hitting well of late and has his average up to .309. Fidel Pena was the only other Brevard County starter with two hits, but only Angel Ortega was the only starter without a hit. Payton paced the Yankees, collecting three of their six hits.


Brevard County returns home Monday to start a series against the Dunedin Blue Jays. The Manatees starter has not been named yet, but first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/1/16

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