Manatees thump Threshers, 10-3

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees reached the double-digit mark in runs for the fifth time this season as they pounded the Clearwater Threshers, 10-3 on Sunday afternoon at Bright House Field.

The 'Tees (7-3 second half, 36-42 second half) tallied ten hits - eight of them for extra bases - and benefitted from three Threshers' errors as Brevard defeated Clearwater (5-6, 41-36) for just the second time this season in seven games.

Brevard jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run homer by Jason Rogers. Clearwater would score their only run off of 'Tees starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann in the bottom of the second on a RBI ground out.

Jungmann (6-4, 3.51) threw six innings and allowed one run on three hits for his tenth quality start in 16 starts so far this season. He did not walk a batter and struck out three. The 12th overall pick of the 2011 MLB draft is 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts.

The Manatees busted the game open with a five-run fifth inning. The frame started with Shea Vucinich reaching on an error and then Parker Berberet doubled to right to put runners on second and third.

After a Nick Shaw strikeout, Reggie Keen reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by first baseman Drew Hillman. Vucinich scored and Berberet advanced to third, to put runners on second and third with one out.

T.J. Mittelstaedt then hit his 17th double of the season to center to score Berberet and give the 'Tees a 4-1 lead. Rogers then stepped up and hit his second homer of the game, a three-run shot, that gave Brevard a 7-1 lead.

Rogers is the first Manatee to hit two homers in a game since Brock Kjeldgaard did it on June 5, 2011 against Daytona. Ironically enough, Kjeldgaard capped off the 'Tees scoring on Sunday afternoon against Clearwater with a solo homer in the ninth.

Rogers is making a case for earning Florida State League Player of the Week honors in his first full week with the Manatees. Since Tuesday, he is hitting .428 (9-for-21) with three homers, ten RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases.

Brevard County and Clearwater will continue their three-game series on Monday night at 7:00 p.m.

Southpaw Jed Bradley (5-6, 4.68) will take the hill for the 'Tees as he looks to build on the seven inning complete game he threw this past Wednesday against Charlotte. In two starts against the Threshers this season, Bradley is 0-1 with a 8.10 ERA.

Lefty Adam Morgan (2-8, 3.82) will toe the rubber for the Threshers. Morgan has lost his last four starts but has a 1.35 ERA in two starts against Brevard in 2012.