Manatees rally from deficit

Published on August 4, 2011 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Brevard County Manatees News Release


VIERA, Fla. -- The Brevard County Manatees rallied from a 7-0 deficit to defeat the Dunedin Blue Jays, 8-7 in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium and snap a five-game losing streak.

Mark Rogers, one of Milwaukee's top pitching prospects, made his first start since a rehab stint in Arizona and was perfect in his first two innings of work, but ran into trouble in the third.

After allowing a lead-off homer in the inning to Kevin Ahrens, Rogers walked back-to-back hitters and then walked back-to-back hitters as Dunedin plated another run. After a strike out and a sacrifice fly, Rogers allowed back-to-back walks again and was then relieved by Evan Anundsen.

Rogers went 2 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (all earned), while giving up three hits and walking four.

Anundsen struggled as well as he gave up two homers in his 3 1/3 innings of work as the Blue Jays opened up a 7-0 lead going into the seventh inning.

Dunedin starter Drew Hutchinson was taken out after six and the 'Tees began an offensive assault on the Blue Jays' bullpen.

Hunter Morris and Shea Vucinich led the inning off with back-to-back singles off of Justin Phillabaum. Chuck Caufield then walked to load the bases and two batters later, Chris Dennis drew a bases-loaded walk to give the 'Tees (44-62 overall, 17-19 second half) their first run of the game.

Two batters later and with two outs, Scooter Gennett singled to drive in Vucinich and Caufield and make it a 7-3 deficit. Matt Wright would then come in to replace Phillabaum and he proceeded to walk Kentrail Davis to load the bases again for Brevard County.

D'Vontrey Richardson then hit a hot-shot to third on the first pitch he saw, that Ahrens couldn't handle which led to Dennis scoring to make it a 7-4 game.

Hunter Morris then singled through a hole on the right side to plate Davis and Richardson and cut it to just a one run deficit. Scott Gracey came in for Wright and got the final out of the inning, but not before the 'Tees put six on the board.

After Rolando Pascual's second scoreless inning of work, Juan Sanchez's one-out single in the bottom of the eighth to score Caufield knotted the game up at 7-7.

It would remain 7-7 until the bottom of the tenth as Caufield led the inning off with a double. Zarraga would sacrifice Caufield over to third and put the winning run 90 feet away.

Scott Krieger pinch-hit for Dennis and struck out and then Dunedin (59-50, 20-19) wanted a lefty-lefty match-up so they decided to intentionally walk Sanchez and have Aaron Loup face Brevard County's best hitter in Gennett.

Gennett made the Blue Jays pay for wanting to pitch to him as he singled to right to score Caufield to win the game and end a game that lasted almost three and a half hours, not including an hour rain delay.

Bradley Blanks picked up the win in two scoreless innings of relief.

Gennett went 3-for-6 with three RBI. Morris, Caufield and Sanchez all had two hits each as well.

Brevard County and Dunedin will continue their three-game series on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.

Hiram Burgos (3-6, 4.66) will take the hill for the Manatees, while Ryan Tepera (8-5, 4.63) will toe the rubber for the Blue Jays.

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Florida State League Stories from August 4, 2011


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