Vero Dodgers Rally, then falter

Published on June 5, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


(Vero Beach, FL) - The Vero Beach Dodgers overcame an early 6-run deficit, but lost the lead in the 9th to lose to Brevard County 11-10 Monday night at Holman Stadium. Gabriel Gutierrez drove in three runs, including the lead run on a suicide squeeze bunt in the 7th inning. The series continues Tuesday night at 7:00 PM with Baseball Bingo taking place during the game.

The Dodgers chipped away after an early Manatee offensive assault gave Brevard County a 9-3 lead. Vero Beach took their first lead of the game in the 7th inning. Cory Dunlap led off with a monstrous home run to right that pulled the Dodgers within 9-8. Carlos Santana followed with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Travis Denker smacked a ball up the middle that deflected off Manatees pitcher David Johnson and allowed Santana to score all the way from second base. After Jamie Hoffman singled Denker to third, Gutierrez laid down his suicide squeeze to put the Dodgers ahead 10-9.

Julio Pimentel, who pitched a perfect 8th inning, stayed on in the 9th and retired his first batter. But after allowing a walk and single, Carlos Corporan doubled into the right field corner to score both baserunners. It was Pimentel's first blown save.

The Manatees built their early lead off starter Chris Malone. Steve Sollman doubled in two runs in the first, which the Dodgers matched in the bottom of the inning. In the second, Corporan led off with a double and Josh Murray singled. One out later, Charlie Fermaint singled in one run and Alcides Escobar brought in another with a double. That knocked out Malone after just 1 1/3 innings. His previous shortest outing was four innings pitched and it was just the third time this year he failed to make it past the fifth.

Zach Hammes relieved him and walked Sollman. Brendan Katin reach on a fielder's choice that brought in another run and Kyle Phillips singled in two more to put Brevard County on top 7-2. Vero got a run back in the bottom of the second before Brevard County struck for two more in the fourth to make it 9-3.

The Dodgers made strides in the bottom of the fourth. Denker and Hoffman started the inning with back-to-back singles and advanced on a wild pitch. Gutierrez grounded a ball after which Hoffman was tagged out. It scored a run and Gutierrez was safe at first. Xavier Paul followed with a single to knock Brevard starter Josh Wahpepah out of the game. David Nicholson greeted reliever Ben Stanczyk with a single to plate Gutierrez and pull the Dodgers within 9-5. A Blake DeWitt ground out brought in Paul and Nicholson scored when Dunlap's pop up to third was dropped for an error. The 9-7 deficit lasted until the 7th when Vero Beach took the brief lead.

It the second time this year Vero Beach held a lead after 8 innings against Brevard County only to lose it in the 9th. The one-run loss was the Dodgers league-high 18th of the season.

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Florida State League Stories from June 5, 2006


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