'Tees Hold on to Top Tampa, 7-5

June 21, 2013 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Brevard County Manatees News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees held a 7-2 lead after seven innings but had to hold on to defeat the Tampa Yankees, 7-5 on Friday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Matt Miller entered the game for the 'Tees (1-1 second half, 38-31 overall) to start the bottom of the eighth and proceded to allow a single to Mason Williams and then walked Robert Refsnyder. Ben Gamel then stepped up and would make Miller and Manatees pay as he homered to right to make it just a two-run game.

Tommy Toledo was then brought in for a six-out save and was able to retire Tampa (1-1, 29-41) in order to finish out the eighth. After allowing a lead-off double to Saxon Butler in the bottom of the ninth, Toledo retired the side yet again to earn his 11th save of the season.

For Toledo, it was his fourth save of 2013 in which he was asked to get more than three outs. He has also a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities on the road with a 0.77 ERA in nine appearances overall away from home.

With the game remaining scoreless through three innings, the Manatees got on the board first against Tampa's southpaw starter Dietrich Enns in the top of the fourth.

Greg Hopkins led the frame off with a walk and then Mitch Haniger followed with a single. Hopkins and Haniger would each move up 90 feet on a passed ball by catcher Gary Sanchez to put runners on second and third with no outs.

After Nick Ramirez struck out, Ben McMahan would bring Hopkins home on a RBI groundout to third that also moved Haniger to third. Yadiel Rivera then stepped up and delivered a two-out RBI single to right to make it a 2-0 game.

Brevard County roughed up the first reliever out of the Yankees' bullpen in the sixth as Diego Moreno came in for Enns. Hopkins led off the inning with a single and then Haniger was hit by a pitch.

Two batters later with one out, McMahan singled to center to bring home Hopkins and make it 3-0. McMahan was 2-for-4 on the game and drove in two runs.

Then with Rivera at the plate, a wild pitch by Moreno moved McMahan and Haniger to second and third, respectively. Rivera would then connect with his second RBI single of the game as he drove one up the middle to bring both men home, to give Brevard County a 5-0 lead.

Rivera led the way at the plate for the Manatees as he went 3-for-4 with three RBI. He is hitting .291 (16-for-55) in the month of June.

The Manatees provided plenty of run support for starting pitcher Jacob Barnes (5-2, 3.57) who went a season-high six innings. Barnes yielded seven hits and two runs - both in the sixth inning - that allowed Tampa to cut the lead to 5-2.

Barnes recorded just two strikeouts but did not walk a batter for the first time since May 16 against St. Lucie. It was his first win in a start since April 18 versus Clearwater.

Brevard County picked up two insurance runs in the seventh that proved to be beneficial as Greg Hopkins launched a two-run homer to left.

Hopkins was 2-for-4 on the night with three runs scored and homered for the second time in his last four games after having just two all season before that.

The rubber match of the three-game set between Brevard County and Tampa will be Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.

The Manatees will send lefty Jed Bradley (4-2, 3.94) to the mound as he looks to build on his stellar June, in which he has gone 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts.

Bryan Mitchell (3-7, 4.74) will get the call for the Yankees. Mitchell has pitched much better at home with a 2-1 record with a 2.91 ERA in six appearances, compared to a road mark of 1-6 with a 6.21 ERA in eight appearances.



Florida State League Stories from June 21, 2013


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