Threshers Take Second Half Opener From Manatees

Blake Allemand

The Clearwater Threshers scored three runs in the top of the fifth, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead and they never looked back, beating the Brevard County Manatees 7-4, in front of 1,320 fans at Space Coast Stadium.

Clearwater got to Brevard County starter Jon Perrin in the top of the first. Carlos Tocci hit a line drive back to the mound to start things, Perrin picked it up but Tocci’s speed got him the single. Scott Kingery and Mitch Walding followed with singles of their own, loading the bases. Zach Green grounded into a force out, bringing a run home and one out later, Chace Numata singled, to make it a 2-0 game.

“Tough luck to start the game,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault. I know he (Perrin) was upset about the comebacker, he couldn’t make a play on it.” Considering the inning started with the bases loaded and nobody out, that inning had the potential to be disastrous and Perrin allowed only the two runs.

The Manatees (23-46, 0-1) threatened in the bottom of the second, with Clint Coulter smoking a double down the left field line and getting to third on a ground out, before Threshers starter Yacksel Rios struck out Dustin Houle to end the inning. It was one of six strikeouts for Rios on the night and 12 combined by two Clearwater pitchers.

Brevard County broke through in the bottom of the third with a three-run inning against Rios. Jose Cuas walked with one out and was sacrificed to second on Omar Garcia’s bunt. That brought Blake Allemand to the plate and he stroked a single to right, closing the gap to 2-1. Allemand was promoted earlier in the day from Wisconsin, where he was tearing things up. He played five games for the Manatees at the beginning of the season and is back to help the Manatees in the second half.

“It’s good to have him back,” said Ayrault. “He’s played mainly second, but he’s played third and short in the past, so he’ll likely play mostly on the left side of the infield for us. He would’ve stayed with us but there was an injury down there that opened up a spot where he could play every day. It was good for him to go down there and get his at bats. Hopefully he continues his success now, that he was having down there.”

Allemand wasn’t done in that frame. After Dustin DeMuth walked, Elvis Rubio hit one to Walding at third and Allemand was coming toward him. He couldn’t get back in time to get Allemand, thanks to the jump he got at second and Walding decided to try to get the out at first His throw was offline, allowing two runs to score. Rubio made it all the way to third. He was credited with a single and the two-base error and the Manatees had a 3-2 lead.

“That was great base running by Allemand,” said Ayrault. “He got a great jump on that ground ball and pressured Walding into making that throw to first. Could’ve been just one run in the inning, but it was good hustle on the bases, that got us two more.”

Fidel Pena

Fidel Pena made it a 4-2 game in the bottom of the fourth, when he launched a 448-foot bomb to right field, his second of the season. Perrin came out to start the fifth and trouble found him immediately. Walding drew a walk and Zach Green got those two runs back in a hurry, with his ninth long ball of the year, to go with his 39^th and 40^th RBIs. One out later, Numata singled and went to third on a Malquin Canelo single. Numata came home on Jiandido Tromp’s sac fly, making it a 5-4 game. 

Perrin allowed one more single, before leaving the game in favor of Kender Villegas.

Perrin went 4.2 innings, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits. He walked one, while striking out four in an outing that saw him throw 100 pitches, 68 for strikes. Villegas got the final out of the inning and then went on to pitch the sixth and seventh.

Clearwater (40-29, 1-0) tacked on two unearned runs against Villegas in the seventh. Canelo singled with two outs and Tromp lifted a fly ball to right that should’ve ended the inning. Coulter lost sight of the ball and by the time Omar Garcia got over there from center, he couldn’t make the play. Canelo scored and Tromp went to second.

“It was a lost fly ball by Coulter,” Ayrault said. “He didn’t see it at all, lost it in the twilight. It possibly could’ve been ruled a hit, but he just never saw it.” Ayrault was happy with his bullpen of Villegas and Brad Kuntz, who pitched the final two innings. 

“Without that blunder in the outfield, they would’ve went scoreless for us,” he said. “It’s just one game and we are one game out of first. We’ll come back and do it again tomorrow.”

Speaking of scoreless, Threshers reliever Victor Arano pitched the final three innings, earning his second save. He struck out six Manatees and did not walk a batter.

For more info: Clearwater @ Brevard County boxscore

Roster move: Angel Ortega was promoted to Double-A Biloxi on Thursday, which is what brought Allemand to Brevard County. “It’s very rewarding, kid’s had a great year,” said Ayrault of Ortega. “Stinks to lose a guy, but in our position, that’s part of the job, moving guys up and I’m super excited for him and I hope he continues his success in Double-A.”

This series continues Friday with Cody Ponce (0-1, 2.57 ERA) taking the mound for the Manatees, against Elniery Garcia (6-2, 1.97 ERA). First pitch, 6:35 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 6/23/16