Brevard Walks off with Win in Pitcher's Duel

Published on June 3, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Brevard County Manatees News Release


Manatees starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson allowed two runs in seven innings of work, while striking out five on Sunday night. He did not factor in the decision as Brevard County defeated the Bradenton Marauders 3-2 on a walk-off single by T.J. Mittelstaedt.(Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

VIERA, Fla. - It was the pitching duel that was expected between newly named Florida State League All-Stars Jimmy Nelson and Gerrit Cole, but neither factored into the decision as the Brevard County Manatees defeated the Bradenton Marauders 3-2 on a walk-off single by T.J. Mittelstaedt on Sunday night.

With the game tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Nick Shaw led off the inning by drawing a lead-off walk off of new reliever Quinton Miller. Then with Shaw running, Reggie Keen grounded to the second baseman Drew Maggi as Shaw was in motion to second. Shaw reached second before Maggi could make a play there, so he had to take the out at first.

With the winning run in scoring position, Mittelstaedt stepped to the plate and ripped a frozen rope down the first base line past the diving Alex Dickerson, on a ball that was very close to being called foul. It was ruled a fair ball and just like that, Shaw scored and the Manatees (24-31) had wrapped up their third consecutive victory.

Thomas Keeling earned the win in relief as he threw two scoreless innings while striking out four.

The 'Tees jumped on top Cole - the first overall pick of the 2011 draft - early as they plated two runs in the first inning of off him. Shaw and Keen had back-to-back singles to lead off the frame and then Mittelstaedt drove home Shaw with his 11th double of the season.

After a Mike Walker strikeout, the Manatees would score their other run of the inning on a RBI groundout by Shea Vucinich to take a 2-0 lead on the Marauders (24-32).

Bradenton got one of those runs back off of Nelson in the second as left-handed Stefan Welch took a high and in fastball and deposited it over the right field fence for his seventh homer of the season.

Brevard County couldn't get anything else off of Cole (4-1, 2.53) in his other five innings on the mound. Cole went six innings and allowed just the two first inning runs. He scattered six hits, while walking four and striking out six Brevard hitters.

The Marauders tied the game at 2-2 with another run off of Nelson in the top of the fifth. Andy Vasquez led the frame off with a double to left and then Justin Howard walked, to put two on with no outs. Carlos Paulino's sacrifice bunt moved both Vasquez and Howard up 90 feet to second and third. Then a RBI groundout by Dan Grovatt plated the tying run.

Nelson (4-4, 2.12) departed after seven innings and allowed two runs on just three hits. He walked three and struck out five to bring his season strikeout total to 72, which is second in the FSL. Nelson is also now the league leader in both earned run average and innings pitched.

Shaw, Mittelstaedt and Parker Berberet had two hits each for the 'Tees who are hitting .288 as a team in their last ten games.

The Manatees will be going for a four-game sweep of the Marauders on Monday night at 6:35 p.m.

Brandon Williamson (1-2, 3.67) will get the ball for Brevard County. He has gone five innings and struck five batters in each of his last two starts.

Bradenton will send Tyler Waldron (4-2, 3.65) to the hill. He has gone seven innings and struck out at least seven in each of his last two starts.

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