Numata's Three Hits Not Enough in Loss
July 5, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
Chace Numata led the Clearwater Threshers offense with a three-hit day on Sunday, but Clearwater fell short of a comeback in a 5-4 loss to the Brevard County Manatees at Space Coast Stadium.
Clearwater (8-3) outhit the Manatees 13-8, but would leave the tying run on base in the ninth as Brevard County (4-6) evened up the series at a game apiece.
Numata knocked in one of the Threshers three runs, and turned in his second-straight three-hit performance.
After the Manatees grabbed a run in the first inning against starter David Whitehead (5-7), Numata helped the Threshers briefly bound back to take the lead in the third.
With two outs, Rhys Hoskins singled to right, and Numata lined a double to left. Willians Astudillo reached on an error by third baseman Taylor Brennan, allowing Hoskins to cross the plate, and Angelo Mora followed with an infield hit that pushed Numata across to make it 2-1 Clearwater.
Brevard County went ahead for good in the fourth.
A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases to open the inning, before Angel Ortega singled to bring home two and give the Manatees the advantage. Michael Ratterree later added an RBI single of his own, and Clint Coulter's sacrifice fly made it a 5-2 deficit.
Clearwater would close the gap after Astudillo knocked home Hoskins with a single in the fifth, and the teams traded zeros until Clearwater mounted a final attempt in the ninth.
Andrew Pullin singled with one out against Mark Williams, and Hoskins was hit by a pitch to put the tying run aboard. Numata came through with a clutch single to right, scoring Pullin, but Hoskins was thrown out trying to advance to third for the second out of the inning. Williams then got Astudillo to pop out to end the game.
Wei-Chung Wang (6-2) earned the win for the Manatees, after holding Clearwater to three runs - one earned - in five innings.
Whitehead would be charged with five runs on eight hits and three walks in his five innings, suffering the loss. Cody Forsythe turned in a near-perfect relief outing, allowing just a walk through three hitless innings.
Clearwater will look to take the series on Monday as the Threshers and Manatees face off for the rubber match at 6:35 p.m. The Threshers, who have yet to lose a series in the second half, will send Victor Arano (2-7) to the hill in the finale.
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