Peralta Has Solid Outing in First Manatees Start

Freddy Peralta

Brevard County Manatees hurler Freddy Peralta made his first start of the season at Space Coast Stadium on Saturday, coming away with a no-decision, as the Manatees fell 3-1 to the Jupiter Hammerheads.

The 20-year-old Peralta went 4-1 in Low-A Wisconsin with a 2.85 ERA in 16 games (8 starts), before Making his first appearance in relief for Brevard County on July 9 at Bradenton. Peralta looked comfortable to begin Saturday’s game, striking out Junior Sosa and getting the crowd of 1,116 into the game early.

After retiring Rony Cabrera on a ground out, Peralta grooved a fastball that John Norwood drilled off the left field wall. Brad Haynal cashed that in quickly with an RBI single, giving the visitors a quick 1-0 lead. Peralta would give up only one more hit in five innings of work and the first inning run was all that he allowed. He walked three and struck out four, throwing 73 pitches, 42 strikes.

Peralta even showed off some defensive skills in the second inning, going airborne to snare a Rodrigo Vigil bunt attempt out of the air. He turned it into a double play, as he caught Avery Romero off first.

“I thought he did a real good job,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault, following Peralta’s outing. “One of the youngest pitchers in the league, so it’s a nice outing for him.”

The Manatees (6-16 29-61) were able to get runners on base, starting with leadoff man Corey Ray, who extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single to start the bottom of the first, after an eight pitch at-bat. He was caught stealing, just before Wendell Rijo singled, which likely would’ve scored Ray. Rijo later stole second, but the Manatees failed to score in the inning.

The Manatees finally got on the board in the fifth inning against Hammerheads starter Jeff Brigham (4-5). Jose Cuas hit a routine grounder to short that was not handled. Ray followed with a drive that sailed over Norwood’s head in right, allowing Cuas to score standing up and tying the game at 1-1.

Wendell Rijo

After extending his hitting streak in the first, that RBI double in the fifth, gave Ray his fifth multi-hit game during the streak. “He had a couple good AB’s and Rijo as well,” said Ayrault. “A couple knocks apiece.”

Jon Perrin came in in relief of Peralta to start the sixth. After getting the first two outs, he walked Haynal and then proceeded to throw to straight wild pitches, moving Haynal to third. Dexter Kjerstad knocked him in with a single, giving the Hammerheads a 2-1 lead.

It looked like the Manatees were primed to score at least the tying run in the seventh inning. George Iskenderian led off with a walk and one out later, Jose Cuas singled to the gap in center. Sosa got over in a hurry to cut it off, with Cuas heading toward second. He was out by a wide margin at the bag and Iskenderian was at third where he would stay, as Ray struck out to end the frame.

“They just shut us down,” said Ayrault. “It’s tough when you’re 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position on the night.”

The Hammerheads got their final run off Perrin (1-7) in the eighth, on Kjerstad’s second RBI single of the night. He also drew two walks on the night, to go with the two home runs he hit over the course of the four-game series.

For more info: Jupiter @ Brevard County boxscore

Perrin went four innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He only walked one, while striking out five. On the surface, those numbers would tell you he had good control and he did, outside of those two wild pitches that ended up scoring the decisive run.

The Manatees start an eight game road trip at Palm Beach on Sunday, with Bubba Derby (6-7, 4.93 ERA) taking the hill for the Manatees. Jacob Evans (3-7, 3.84 ERA) will be on the mound for the home team. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.

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