Tampa Yankees Edge Brevard County Manatees 2-1 - Advanced A, Florida State League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - TAMPA - The Tampa Yankees clipped the Brevard County Manatees Wednesday night, 2-1.  Ryan Pope (3-2) pitched six shutout innings to pick up the win, while Donovan Hand (3-2) took a tough loss, allowing just one run over seven innings.  Tampa struck first, with a Mitch Hilligoss double, followed by Andres Perez’s single to score the first run of the game in the fourth inning.  They tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, as Luis Nunez scorched a triple down the right field line off Manatees reliever Rafael Lluberes.  Nunez then scored on Tim Battle’s double.  The Manatees
ADVERTISEMENT threatened in the ninth, as Stephen Chapman hit his team-high sixth home run of the year.  Chuck Caufield was able to reach on an error with two outs to bring the winning run to the plate, but Matt Cline’s groundout ended the threat.  Jose Valdez earned his first save of the season for Tampa, despite allowing the Chapman homer.   

With their seventh consecutive victory, Tampa has now moved into sole possession of first place in the FSL West, and is tied for the best record in the entire Florida State League at 20-13.  Brevard County maintained its second place position in the FSL East at 17-16.  Mike Jones (0-0, 4.85) looks to turn things around for the Manatees tomorrow, as he takes on Alfredo Aceves (3-1, 2.60) on Howard Dean “I Have a Scream” Night at Space Coast Stadium.  The festivities begin at 7:00 pm tomorrow night.

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