Villegas’ Stellar Performance Gives Manatees Series Win


Kender Villegas
Kender Villegas
The Brevard County Manatees came from behind Sunday and hung on for a 5-4 victory, at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin. With the win, the Manatees took three of four games and took home their third series win of the year.

Kodi Medeiros was the starting pitcher for the ‘Tees on Sunday, but he went just two innings, before leaving with an apparent injury. He covered the first base bag and recorded an out on a ball hit by L.B. Dantzler in the bottom of the second. He finished the inning, but did not come out of the dugout for the third. Medeiros gave up two hits, walked two and struck out two, in his short stint. He threw 42 pitches, 23 for strikes.

Kender Villegas took over for Brevard County and got through the third, before running into trouble in the fourth. Jason Leblebijian and Dantzler hit back-to-back singles and Jonathan Davis laid down a bunt, that Villegas fielded. He bluffed and then threw to third, where Jose Cuas caught the ball, but was short of the bag, loading the bases. Emilio Guerrero’s fielders’ choice scored Leblebijian and made it 1-0. With the bases still loaded, Mike Reeves RBI single to right, gave them a 2-0 lead and then things got interesting.

MLB-rehabber Devon Travis flew into foul territory at third Cuas made the play, but fell down after running into the tarp. Guerrero and Reeves both tagged when Cuas fell and Guerrero scored. Reeves decided to see if he could make it to third, but Cuas got back to his feet and threw Reeves out at the plate. The Blue Jays didn’t agree with the call at third, but it turned into a double play, despite the Jays’ upping their lead to 3-0. Just your average every day 5-2-5 out to end the frame.

Taylor Brennan helped the Manatees get a run back in the fifth. He drew a four-pitch walk and went to second on a balk by Dunedin starter Conner Greene. Gregory McCall flew out, moving Brennan to third and he came home when Cuas reached on a throwing error by Leblebijian at third. That pulled the visitors within two, 3-1.

Villegas (2-4) settled in nicely and ended up giving his team three more innings of scoreless relief. He did not allow a hit after that fourth inning. He walked three and struck out three, after being pushed into unexpected long relief. It was a great outing and key to the outcome. Villegas threw 57 pitches, 33 for strikes.

Brevard County (13-24) got another run in the sixth when McCall knocked home Dustin DeMuth on a single to right. DeMuth was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. That would end the day for Greene, who left after 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out two, throwing 89 pitches, 56 for strikes. Reliever Alonzo Gonzalez got the final out of the inning, but trouble found him to start the seventh.

Omar Garcia singled and stole second, his fifth of the season. Brandon Diaz singled to right and rounded the bag at first, getting caught in an intentional rundown. While that was going on, Garcia broke for the plate and the throw was late there. Diaz was safe at second and the game was tied at three. Johnny Davis followed with a bunt back to the mound, the throw pulled Dantzler off the bag and allowed Diaz to score the lead run. Davis would later get picked off and after Angel Ortega flew out, DeMuth singled and later scored on a Fidel Pena RBI single.

Clint Terry came in to pitch the final three innings for the Manatees and earn his first save of the season. He allowed only a ninth inning single to Dantzler. It was the first baserunner for Dunedin, since the RBI single by Reeves in the fourth.

For more info: Brevard County @ Dunedin boxscore

The bottom of the order, specifically Garcia in the eight spot and Diaz in the nine hole, were both 2-for-4. They had half of the Manatees eight hits. Dantzler was the only Dunedin player to have two hits.

Brevard County returns home Monday night to start a four-game series against Bradenton at 6:35 p.m. Jon Perrin 0-0, 1.50) who pitched six innings in his first start last Wednesday, after being called up from Wisconsin earlier in the day, will likely take the ball. He will be opposed by Colten Brewer (1-5, 4.36 ERA).

Dunedin stays home and will welcome Fort Myers in on Monday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the now defunct Examiner.com on 5/15/16


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