Dodgers can't close deal in ninth, fall to Manatees

Published on July 1, 2004 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


Viera, FL- The Brevard County Manatees stormed back to score two in the ninth and knock off the Vero Beach Dodgers 2-1 in Viera, FL Thursday night.

It was a matchup of former first-round draft choices as RHP Chad Billingsley, the Dodgers' top pick in 2003, squared off against LHP Joshua Girdley, the number one pick of the Expos in 1999. The matchup lived up to its billing as the game remained scoreless into the fourth inning when C Russell Martin cracked the scoreboard and gave the Dodgers the first run of the game, slamming a two-out, RBI double off the left field wall to plate SS Joel Guzman, who had singled earlier in the inning.

Billingsley made the single run look like an outburst as he went on to toss seven shutout innings, allowing only a first inning seeing-eye single to 3B Vince Rooi and three walks, striking out nine. Girdley wouldn't allow anything either after Martin's RBI double, going 5.1 innings, allowing the run on five hits and no walks, but could not receive the offensive support.

LHP Jamaal Hamilton relieved Billingsley in the eighth and kept the Manatees at Bay, allowing a leadoff single but worked his way out of the jam and bridged the gap between Billingsley and closer RHP Jumbo Diaz. Diaz struck out the leadoff batter in the ninth, but after a walk, a single and a balk, CF Frank Diaz singled to right field to win the game. RHP Jason Bergman got the win after throwing a scoreless ninth, while Diaz suffered his first defeat.

The second of two games at Brevard County will be played Friday night at 7:00 PM. RHP Casey Hoorelbeke (1-2, 5.40) gets the nod for the Dodgers against RHP Chris Barlow (2-3, 4.19). The Dodgers return home for the Saturday night fireworks extravaganza against the St. Lucie Mets. First pitch is slated for 6:30 PM with a special Independence Day pre-game ceremony beginning at 5:45 PM.

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Florida State League Stories from July 1, 2004


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