Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

'Tees fall short in 3-2 walk-off loss to Cubs

Michael Reed clubs his fifth home run of the season in defeat
August 13, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees dropped game two of Tuesday's doubleheader, as the Daytona Cubs walked-off with a 3-2 victory at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

With the game deadlocked at two heading to the bottom of the seventh, Chadd Krist started the final frame for Daytona (29-20 second half, 55-62 overall) with a four-pitch walk.

On the next pitch, Bijan Rademacher laced a single into right field. Krist held up at second and all of a sudden the Cubs had the winning run in scoring position with nobody out.

Brevard County (24-25, 60-55) brought the corners in expecting a bunt from Gioskar Amaya and that is exactly what they got.

After popping up a bunt earlier in the game, Amaya laid a perfect sacrifice down the third base line. However, third baseman Brandon Macias and pitcher Taylor Williams (0-1, 2.25 ERA) had a miscommunication on who was supposed to be where.

Williams fielded the ball and turned to third base to get the force, but with Macias charging in, no one was there. The 'Tees starter then turned and threw to first to try and get Amaya, but the throw was low and got past Mike Garza.

Krist was able to motor home from second to give the Cubs the walk-off victory, 3-2.

It was a sour end to a strong start from the right-hander. Williams, whose first start was cut to only two innings thanks to an hour-long rain delay in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, took his first loss at the Advanced-A level.

The Brewers' fourth-round pick from 2013 yielded all three of Daytona's runs - just two earned - on seven hits over six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out three in defeat.

Brevard County initially jumped out in front by tallying a run in the third and fourth innings.

Cubs starter Tayler Scott (7-8, 4.31) retired the first seven batters he faced before issuing a one-out walk to Greg Hopkins.

With Brandon Macias at the plate, Hopkins broke for second base. The catcher Krist's throw was late and the 'Tees now had the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Later in the at-bat, Macias poked a ball down the right field line. Hopkins scored easily and Macias chugged into second with an RBI double to give the Manatees the lead, 1-0.

In the fourth, it was Michael Reed who created the offense. After taking what he thought was ball four for a strike, the right-hander swinger slammed a ball to deep left field.

Kyle Schwarber chased it back to the wall, but Reed's shot carried over the fence for a home run. The solo blast was Reed's career-high fifth home run of the season and it gave Brevard a two-run advantage.

Daytona rallied back to tie with by scoring in the fifth and sixth innings.

After Billy McKinney started the frame with a double off the wall in right, Chadd Krist slapped a ball into left for an RBI single to trim the lead to 2-1.

The Cubs had a chance to tie and take the lead in that very inning, but Williams buckled down. After making a throwing error on a fielder's choice and a uncorking a wild pitch to put runners at second and third, Williams struck out Marco Hernandez looking to keep Brevard in front.

However, the Cubs were still able to tie it up in the following inning. With runners at the corners thanks to back-to-back singles by Schwarber and Dan Vogelbach, Wes Darvill lofted a fly ball to center field.

With the Manatees outfielders playing in to cut off any bloop hits, Darvill was able to make Tyrone Taylor tail back on the fly ball. The ball was deep enough, as Schwarber scored easily on the sacrifice fly to knot the game at two.

Scott did not factor into the decision for the Cubs, but was integral in keeping them in the game. The South Africa native allowed both of Brevard's runs on five hits over six frames. He walked two and struck out five.

Yao-Lin Wang, who was activated off the disabled list between games, recorded the win for the Cubs after tossing a spotless top of the seventh.

Following the off day tomorrow, Brevard County and Daytona will battle in another doubleheader, this time at Space Coast Stadium. First pitch of game one is slated for 5:05 p.m. with game two scheduled to begin a half-hour after the first game's completion.

The Manatees are slated to throw a duo of left-handed pitchers to face a lefty-laden Cubs lineup. Hobbs Johnson (11-7, 2.86) will go in game one against Daytona's right-hander Jose Rosario (4-7, 5.60). In game two, Mike Strong (1-1, 2.45), who was perfect through 5.1 innings in his last outing, will make the spot start against another righty in Justin Amlung (3-3, 5.24).