Brevard snaps skid on tenth inning walk-off

VIERA, Fla. - An opposite field RBI single from Nick Ramirez that snuck inches inside the third-base line gave the Brevard County Manatees a 3-2 walk-off win in ten innings over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium.

It marks the eighth walk-off victory in 47 home games for the Manatees (14-11 second half, 51-41 overall) and the team's fifth extra-inning win. Brevard County also improved its league-best mark in one-run games to 23-12.

Brandon Macias scored the winning run after leading off the bottom of the tenth with a single and then advancing to second on D'Vontrey Richardson's base hit up the middle. Macias finished the night with two base hits and two runs scored, as he was one of three Manatees' with multiple hits. Richardson and Cody Hawn also had two hits each.

Both of Hawn's hits came against St. Lucie (14-11, 51-41) starting pitcher Matt Bowman, making him the only Brevard County player to even have one hit through the first five innings.  

Battling rain and a wet mound, Bowman saw trouble in the sixth when he allowed back-to-back singles to Lance Roenicke and Macias and then first baseman Robbie Shields missed the catch on the throw from Bowman on Macias' single, which allowed Roenicke to make it to third base.

From there, he was able to score on Richardson's sacrifice fly. Macias would later score on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.

The Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Brevard County starting pitcher Tyler Cravy (3-1, 2.98 ERA), who was a late fill-in starter, by getting each of their first three men on base. Kyle Johnson singled and T.J. Rivera followed with a double. With both men in scoring position, Jayce Boyd brought them home on a two-run double to right field.

After a one-out single in the first, Cravy settled down to retire 16 consecutive batters before a two-out single off the bat of Dustin Lawley in the top of the sixth.

Cravy finished his night after a season-best six innings, but did not factor in the decision. The starter was charged with just the two runs that came in the first and a total of five hits and zero walks, while striking out three men. Cravy had a chance to be the pitcher of record in the bottom of the sixth, but Brevard County left the bases loaded in that frame.

Brevard County's bullpen combine to allow just one hit over four scoreless innings as the trio of Mark Williams, Tommy Toledo and Stephen Peterson also struck out five. The win was credited to Peterson, moving him to 3-0 on the season.

The loss went to former Major Leaguer Tim Byrdak, who recorded just one out in the tenth with three hits allowed. Bowman made it through the seventh, but also did not take a decision despite allowing just two runs - one earned - on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Brevard County and St. Lucie will continue their four-game set on Friday night, as the series shifts to Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie for a 6:30 p.m. scheduled start.

Due to start on the mound are a pair of lefties, as Jed Bradley (4-3, 4.30 ERA) will get the ball for the Manatees and Alex Panteliodis (4-3, 4.11 ERA) will get the nod for the Mets.