‘Tees Ninth Inning Rally Stalls in Loss to Dunedin


George Iskenderian
George Iskenderian
The Dunedin Blue Jays survived a late charge by the Brevard County Manatees Wednesday, earning a 6-4 victory at Space Coast Stadium. With the win, the Blue Jays take the series two games to one.
The Manatees (3-10, 26-55) got off to a good start, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third, against Dunedin starter Conor Fisk (3-2). Omar Garcia singled with one out and Corey Ray followed with a line drive single to right, scoring Garcia. The ball then scooted by Josh Almonte in right, allowing Garcia to score and Ray to get to second.

Dustin DeMuth followed with an RBI single scoring Ray, who showed good speed on the bases. “He can motor man,” said Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault of Ray’s speed. “It’s easy wheeling him around third base, watching him run, man he can fly.” It was the first run scored for Ray, who made his professional debut on Monday. In three games, he has knocked in a run, earned his first (and second hit) and scored a run. He will definitely be one to watch in what has been a difficult season thus far for the Manatees.

Corey Ray
Corey Ray
Dunedin (10-4, 43-40) came right back in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs against Manatees starter Bubba Derby. Jonathan Davis walked to start the frame and went to third on a Ryan McBroom single. Gunnar Heidt doubled him home, to make it 2-1. An error by left fielder Elvis Rubio allowed McBroom to score, tying the game. Andy Fermin followed with an RBI single, putting the visitors in front, 3-2.

“It’s tough, lead off walks seem to really bite us,” said Ayrault. “That got them going and they scored the three runs. The D-Jays got three more runs in the fifth inning, with a combination of good hitting and some close calls that went their way.

Derby (5-7) gave up four straight singles to start the frame, the final two by McBroom and Heidt were good for RBIs and made it a 5-2 game. That ended the night for Derby, who just had one of those nights at the ballpark. He gave up 10 hits and five earned runs in six innings, walking two and striking out two. 48 of his 74 pitches were strikes.
“It’s one of those things,” said Ayrault of Derby’s struggles. “Definitely a hot day today and the heat index way up there, it’s one of those days in the Florida State League. It’s hot, ya gotta work through it. 10 hits in four innings, never a good night.”

Clint Terry took over for Derby and faced Fermin, who reached on an error, loading the bases. It looked like Terry might work out of the jam after he got Dickie Joe Thon to ground to Blake Allemand at third. He fielded it, stepped on third and then threw home to get the runner there and complete the double play.

Mike Reeves followed with a single, loading the bases again for Almonte. He has been a tough out for the Manatees the last couple games, but in this instance he was awarded first after apparently being hit by a pitch, according to the home plate umpire. He didn’t react and it did not look like the ball hit him. With that, Dunedin was given a run and led 6-2. Ayrault came out to plead his case to the home plate ump, who consulted with the base umpire and the call stood. Ayrault disagreed with the ruling and was tossed from the proceedings.

“There were a couple plays there, a couple bang-bangers at first where I thought at least one of them
Clint Terry
Clint Terry
should’ve been out,” said Ayrault. “The hit by pitch, I’m going off my players on that, saying it didn’t get him in the foot and that led to another run. It was definitely costly.”
The Manatees got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together a couple hits. DeMuth doubled with one out and moved to third on a Rubio single. Clint Coulter grounded into a force, scoring DeMuth and cutting the lead in half, 6-3.

To the Manatees credit, they fought to the end, loading the bases twice in the bottom of the ninth. Dunedin closer Carlos Ramirez came in and walked Gorge Iskenderian. After getting the next out, he walked two straight, loading the bases. That was the end of the night for Ramirez, who gave way to Colton Turner, who had to face Ray. He grounded into a force at second, scoring a run and closing the gap to 6-4. Allemand came up with the bases loaded and Ray at first as the winning run, but he grounded out to end the game.

For more info: Dunedin @ Brevard County boxscore


The Manatees wrap up the homestand on Thursday night, with the Daytona Tortugas coming in for a single game. Eric Hanhold (2-10, 4.65 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Manatees. He will throw the first pitch at 6:35 p.m.

This article originally appeared on 27OutsBaseball.com on 7/6/16

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