FSL1 Daytona Tortugas

Manatees squeak past Cubs in 3-1 opener

Published on July 20, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Daytona Tortugas News Release


VIERA, Fla-Anyone at Space Coast Stadium on Wednesday who decided to blink most likely missed most of Game 1 between the Daytona Cubs and Brevard County Manatees.

In the first of four games between the two Eastern Division rivals, pitching took center stage in a contest that lasted just two hours and five minutes as Brevard County jumped out early and later hung on to win by a final of 3-1.

Cubs starter Anderson Tavarez (3-9) was sharp, as he gave up just three runs (one earned) in six innings and struck out a season-high nine Brevard County batters despite taking his ninth loss of the season.

Brevard County ensued their carnage right away when they scored a run in the first after Tavarez walked third baseman Adam Heether with the bases loaded to plate right fielder Travis Ezi and give the Manatees the 1-0 lead.

Brevard then added to their one run cushion in the second as a throwing error from third baseman Scott Moore and a wild pitch from Tavarez led to two runs and gave the Manatees a 3-0 lead after two full frames.

Daytona jumped on the scoreboard in the fourth, as centerfielder Chris Walker doubled to right-centerfield and eventually scored on two groundouts to give the Cubs their lone run in the series-opening loss.

Manatees starter Tim Dillard (8-7) was stellar in eight full innings as he gave up just one on five hits while he struck out three to notch his eighth victory of the season. With the victory, Dillard is now 2-1, 1.29 ERA in three starts against the Cubs this season.

The real story of the night however was the Manatees unique ability to get on base with "small-ball." Brevard County registered an unheard of eight infield hits in the game, as a third inning single to right field from Heether and a fourth inning double from second baseman Steve Sollman accounted for the only two hits that reached the outfield.

With the loss the Cubs dropped to 8-17 as the Manatees regained sole possession of first place over the St. Lucie Mets as they improved to 16-9.

The two teams will meet back in Viera on Thursday for Game 2 as Daytona sends righty Randy Wells (5-1, 3.56 ERA) to the mound to make his third start of the season.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.

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Florida State League Stories from July 20, 2005


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