Perrin takes Tough-Luck Loss Against Jupiter

Fidel Pena

The Jupiter Hammerheads got their second consecutive 2-0 shutout of the Brevard County Manatees on Saturday night, at Roger Dean Stadium. The Manatees had eight hits Saturday, compared to the five they had Friday night, but they were not able to get the big hit they needed.

Johnny Davis led things off with an infield single against Jupiter starter Luis Castillo in the top of the first. With that, Davis upped his consecutive on-base streak to 27 games. Davis would later be caught stealing and the Manatees came up empty in the top of the first. Fidel Pena would single to start the second inning and would be caught stealing, only to have Elvis Rubio double moments later, costing the visitors a run. 

Manatees’ starter Jon Perrin pitched well Saturday, but after hitting Brad Haynal with a pitch in the second inning, he made a wide throw to first on a pickoff attempt and Haynal went all the way to third on the error. Chris Hoo’s sacrifice fly would score Haynal. Hoo knocked in the second Hammerheads run in the bottom of the fourth, when he singled home Dexter Kjerstad.

Castillo (5-3) would not allow another baserunner in his five innings of work. He gave up three hits to the Manatees, striking out five, before giving way to Jose Velez in the sixth. He threw 70 pitches, 46 for strikes. Velez got the first two outs in the sixth, before walking Davis. That snapped a streak of 12 batters retired by Jupiter pitching.

The best threat Brevard County put together came in the top of the seventh. Dustin DeMuth struck out to start the frame, but Fidel Pena, Taylor Brennan and Elvis Rubio hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Rubio’s single was his third hit of the night and chased Velez. Kyle Fischer took over and got Jose Cuas on strikes for the second out. It was the third strikeout for Cuas in three at-bats. Gregory McCall flew out to end the inning and keep the Manatees off the board. Pena's single was his second of the night. He was the only other Brevard County player with a multi-hit night.

Perrin (0-1) would’ve benefitted from a big inning there, but the offense he kept in the game all night, came up empty. He pitched seven innings, scattering six hits and allowing the one earned run. He did not walk a batter and struck out three. Of his 77 pitches, 58 were strikes. His ERA went down to 3.18. 

Perrin was relieved by the newest Manatee, Gage Smith, who was signed Friday, as a free-agent. Smith gave up a two-out double to Taylor Ard, who later went to third on a wild pitch, but Smith was able to get out of the inning without allowing him to score. Jose Adames came in to pitch the top of the ninth for the Hammerheads and he gave up just a single to Rubio, before earning his fourth save of the season.

For more info: Brevard County @ Jupiter boxscore

Game three of this series is slated for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Brevard County has not officially named a starter, while James Buckelew (1-0, 1.14 ERA) gets the start for the Hammerheads.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/21/16