Manatees drop third straight in Monday matinee

JUPITER, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees dropped their third consecutive game as they fell 6-2 to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Monday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium.

Manatees starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (2-2, 2.45) went just four innings and allowed five runs - four earned - on nine hits. He walked one and struck out six.

The Cardinals' big inning came in the third when Palm Beach (16-15) plated three runs. They scored two runs via a throwing error by Nelson on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Starlin Rodriguez.

Brevard County's bullpen fared better as both Eric Arnett and Brandon Kintzler threw a scoreless inning each, while Connor Whalen allowed one run in two innings but the damage had already been done.

The Manatees (13-18) scored their only runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. The runs in each inning came on RBI groundouts.

In the seventh, Cody Hawn led off the inning with a double and two batters later he was driven in by Mike Walker on a groundout. In the eighth, Nick Shaw led the frame off with a walk and then Miguel Velazquez doubled to put runners at second and third. T.J. Mittelstaedt then grounded out to bring home Shaw.

Monday's loss ends a seven-game road trip for Brevard County, which saw the 'Tees go 2-5. The Manatees return home on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m., to open a four-game set with the St. Lucie Mets, who own the best record in the Florida State League at 25-6.

2011 first round draft pick Jed Bradley (3-2, 3.34) will take the mound for the Manatees in Tuesday's series opener. The Mets will send Erik Goeddel (1-0, 0.75) to the hill.