Sports Lowdown

Jon Perrin Brevard County Manatees pitcher Jon Perrin finished the homestand in style Monday night; pitching a complete-game three-hit gem, helping the Manatees gain a series split with a 4-1 victory against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. “I started off pretty hot going four clean innings right off the bat,” said Perrin. “Just had a good mix – fastball, change-up, slider, throwing everything for strikes. (Catcher Fidel) “Pena and I were on the same page pretty much the whole night.” “He was outstanding tonight,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault of Perrin. “He’s a competitive kid and he mixed his pitches well.” Perrin, drafted in the 27 th round last season, is the first Brewers’ prospect to throw a complete game this season. He threw 83 pitches through eight innings and 95 for the game, to put an exclamation point on a memorable night. Perrin (2-7) got all the help he would need offensively in the bottom of the first. Corey Ray led off with a ground-rule double aga...

Fidel Pena The Brevard County Manatees snapped an eight-game losing streak Sunday, thanks to a 7-6 win over the visiting Charlotte Stone Crabs, in one of the wildest games of the season. Brevard County committed four errors on defense and had just four hits, but came away with a much-needed win. Catcher Fidel Pena was on pace to have a very forgettable night behind the plate, committing two errors on attempted steals and giving up a couple passed ball, as well. All that changed with one swing of the bat in the seventh inning, turning a deficit into a lead and ultimately helping the Manatees snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Things did not start well for Pena or the Manatees, as they found themselves down 5-1 after three innings. Joe McCarthy’s RBI single off of Manatees starter Cody Ponce, scored the first run of the game, with Pena’s passed ball factoring in. Pena helped get that run back in the bottom of the frame, with a one out double. Clint Coulter then reache...

Clint Coulter Manatees right fielder Clint Coulter celebrated his birthday in style Saturday, knocking in three of the Manatees four runs. Unfortunately, Brevard County couldn’t hold the lead, losing to the visiting Stone Crabs 6-4 on Star Wars Night. Charlotte (52-51) jumped in front in the top of the first, against Manatees starter Kodi Medeiros. They were helped on an error committed by Wendell Rijo at second base, allowing Andrew Velazquez to reach with one out. After a ground out moved him to third, Velazquez scored on a single by Grant Kay. The Manatees (10-25, 33-70) bounced right back against Charlotte starter Steve Ascher, in the bottom of the first. Corey Ray reached on an infield single and Blake Allemand hit a high chopper to third, that went off the glove of a leaping Velazquez. That brought Coulter to the plate and he put a charge into one, that bounced into the corner. By the time it was dug out, both runs had scored and Coulter pulled into third and had 3...

Marcos Diplan home debut The Brevard County Manatees were shut out for the 17 th time this season on Friday night, dropping a 1-0 decision to the visiting Charlotte Stone Crabs, in the opener of a four-game series. Marcos Diplan, the Manatees 19-year-old right-hander, deserved a better fate in his first start of the season in front of the home crowd at Space Coast Stadium. The only run he gave up was unearned, in the top of the first. MLB-rehabber Desmond Jennings, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury, drew a walk to start the game. Jake Cronenworth reached on an error by Fidel Pena at first base, moving Jennings to third. He would score on a double-play ball hit by Mac James. The Manatees turned the twin killing, but Jennings scored the decisive run. Jennings was joined by fellow MLB-rehabber Alex Cobb, who is coming off Tommy John Surgery. Cobb has had a couple setbacks recently in his rehab, but you wouldn’t have known it watching him on Friday night. ...

Elvis Rubio The Charlotte Stone Crabs and Brevard County Manatees gave fans at Charlotte Sports Park all they could ask for on Sunday, including some free baseball. The Stone Crabs walked off with a 10 inning victory in the series finale, beating the Manatees, 7-6 in 10 innings. It was a see-saw affair throughout, but an RBI single by Jake Cronenworth against reliever Clint Terry, brought Thomas Milone home with the winning run. Milone had tripled to start the inning against Terry, who like all of the Manatees pitchers, struggled with his control in this game. With the win, Charlotte took three of four games from Brevard County in this series. Chase Whitley started the game for Charlotte and was on a pitch count, as he continues his recovery from Tommy John Surgery in 2015. He pitched the first two innings of the game Sunday, before giving way to Steve Ascher in the third.  19-year-old Marcos Diplan got his second start of the season for the Manatees and while he...

Dustin DeMuth With a win under their belt in  game one of Saturday’s doubleheader , the Charlotte Stone Crabs went into game two, looking for the sweep. They did just that, with the help of starting pitcher  Benton Moss , who allowed three hits in six-plus innings, earning the home team a 3-2 win at Charlotte Sports Park. Moss (5-7) allowed a leadoff double to  Corey Ray  in the first. After  Blake Allemand  bunted him to third,  Dustin DeMuth  plated him with a sacrifice bunt, putting the Manatees ahead early, 1-0. That lead didn’t last long, as the Stone Crabs got to Manatees starter  Eric Hanhold  (2-12) in the bottom of the frame. Jake Cronenworth  walked to start things and went to third on a single by  Andrew Velazquez , that went off of Allemand’s glove at second. A wild pitch moved Velazquez to second.  Joe McCarthy ’s sac fly eventually Cronenworth home with the tying run.  Grant Kay  foll...

Blake Allemand Following Friday night’s postponement due to rain, the Brevard County Manatees and Charlotte Stone Crabs played a doubleheader on Saturday at Charlotte Sports Park. Game one featured a very good pitcher’s duel between Chris Pike of Charlotte, who piggybacked Tampa closer Brad Boxberger and Bubba Derby of the Manatees. Boxberger, who started Thursday’s series opener went one inning on Saturday and the Manatees got to him for a run. With one out, Wendell Rijo singled and stole second, before coming home on Dustin DeMuth’s 21st double of the season and putting the visitors on top 1-0. Charlotte came back with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning. Jake Cronenworth got things going with an infield single. Derby then got the next two outs and looked to be out of the inning when Mac James hit a fly ball to right. Manatees’ right fielder Clint Coulter took a step in on the ball off the bat and that ended costing him. The ball was hit harder than he thought and by ...

Jon Perrin The Brevard County Manatees (33-62) blew a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth on Thursday at Charlotte Sports Park, but two errors in the top of the 10 th led to a run and the Manatees escaped with a 3-2 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs (46-49). The victory was the fourth in the row for Brevard County. Jon Perrin got the start for the Manatees and after a rocky first inning that saw him throw 21 pitches, 11 for strikes, allowing just a single. He settled in nicely, retiring 12 in a row.    The Manatees offense scored a run in the third, with Fidel Pena and Jose Cuas hitting back-to-back singles against Charlotte hurler Greg Harris. Harris took over for Brad Boxberger, who pitched the first inning as part of his continuing rehab with the Stone Crabs. With Pena and Cuas at first and third with one out, Corey Ray grounded one to third. Pena waited for the throw to go to first and he scampered home, beating the throw from first and giving the Manate...