Brevard's bats wake up in 7-2 win
VIERA, Fla. - Before the Saturday night's post-game fireworks could wake up Viera, the Manatees' bats woke up first to the tune of seven runs and 11 hits as the 'Tees topped the Fort Myers Miracle 7-2 at Space Coast Stadium.
Shawn Zarraga led the way at the plate by going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Both Nick Shaw and T.J. Mittelstaedt also had two hits each, while Miguel Velazquez homered for the second straight game.
The Manatees (16-25) scored early as they plated two runs in the first inning when Cody Hawn doubled home Shaw - who led the inning off with a double - and then Zarraga singled to plate Hawn.
Brevard County busted the game wide open in the third as Zarraga drove in Mittelstaedt with a RBI single and then three batters later, Velazquez went deep to center on the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer to make it a 6-0 lead for the 'Tees.
Zarraga added his third RBI single of the night in the fourth inning as he drove in Mittelstaedt with two outs. Six of the seven runs that Brevard County drove in were with two outs. The Manatees came into the game hitting .206 with runners in scoring position, but against the Miracle (16-26) on Saturday they went 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Seven runs in the first four innings was plenty of run support for Manatees starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (1-2, 3.68) who allowed just one run in five innings of work. He scattered five hits and walked one, while striking out five and earning his first win with Brevard County.
Brevard County will go for their first series win since April 25-27 in the final game of the four-game set with the Miracle on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.
Andy Moye, who was just called up from Class-A Wisconsin, will get his first start with the Manatees and he will be doing so on three days rest. In eight appearances with the Timber Rattlers in 2012, Moye was 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA.
The Miracle will counter with Jhon Garcia (0-4, 3.77), who has given up at least five runs in each of his last three starts.