Mittelstaedt, 'Tees Blast off on a Walk-Off

Published on May 26, 2013 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Brevard County Manatees News Release


VIERA, Fla. - T.J. Mittelstaedt once again made himself the hero with a mammoth blast with two outs in bottom of the ninth inning, securing a 3-2 walk-off for the Brevard County Manatees over the Clearwater on Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium.

It was his second walk-off hit for Brevard County (27-21) this season, after smacking a two-out double on May 16 against the St. Lucie Mets.

The hit made a winner of Kevin Shackelford, who was the only man needed out of the bullpen after relievers had combined for 13.2 innings in the previous two games combined. Shackelford threw two scoreless frames with two hits allowed.

Maikel Franco gave Clearwater (23-25) the early lead in the fourth inning with a solo shot, his tenth long ball of the year.

In the bottom of the fourth, Cameron Garfield took advantage of a passed ball on a swinging third strike to reach first to lead off the inning. Nick Ramirez would then send a ball over the right field batting cages make it 2-1 in favor of Brevard County. Five of Ramirez's nine homers in 2013 have now come against the Threshers.

Clearwater was able to tie the game in the seventh, with each of the first four batters recording base hits and Cameron Perkins scoring on a Jonathan Roof RBI single.

That seventh inning was the final one for Manatees' starting pitcher David Goforth (4-4, 2.77), who did not factor into the decision for only the second time this year. Goforth turned in seven strong innings as he allowed only two runs on six hits. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk for the first time on the season.

The Threshers also only used a pair of pitchers, sending starter Mario Hollands out for 5.1 innings of two-run ball, with one of those runs being unearned. He scattered six hits, walked only one and recorded eight strikeouts.

Hollands was backed up by Ryan O'Sullivan, who went the final 3.1 innings and was charged with the loss after giving up the walk-off home run. It was one of only three hits he allowed.

Mitch Haniger tied a career high with three hits in just his third game with Brevard County, while Ramirez and Mittelstaedt each had two hits, including their respective homers.

Brevard's current seven-game home stand concludes on Sunday evening, with first pitch slated for 5:05 p.m. in the third of six straight games overall against Clearwater. Brooks Hall (2-3, 2.72) and Gabriel Arias (5-2, 2.22) will start on the mound for the Manatees and Threshers, respectively.

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