Milwaukee Brewers Farm System: Brevard County Manatees Week 1

The first week of minor league games have come and gone, and it was a rough one for the Milwaukee Brewers High-A affiliate, the Brevard County Manatees.

The Manatees start the season with a 2-5 record in the first week seeing the bats and the bullpen struggle, though the starting pitching has been quite good.  Here’s a recap of this week’s games:

Game 1 at Daytona: L 4-5

Starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff goes six innings allowing one run, but the bullpen can’t hold on in giving up two 8th inning runs to tie it and then losing on a walk-off in the 10th.  First Baseman Dustin DeMuth and Catcher Dustin Houle led the Manatees offense by going 2-5 and 2-4 respectively.

Game 2 against Daytona: L 4-10

Starter Zach Hirsch got roughed up in this one, going three innings giving up six runs (4 earned).  The offense was led by SS Angel Ortega going 2-4 and DeMuth going 1-3 with two walks.

Game 3 at Daytona: W 9-6

The Manatees get their first win as starter Kodi Medeiros goes five innings giving up 3 ER.  Daytona scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th off Kaleb Earls, but Tyler Spurlin came in to get the save.  The offense was led by Ortega and Houle, going 3-6 and 3-5 respectively.

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Game 4 against Daytona: L 1-2

Starter Eric Hanhold went 5.2 innings giving up one run before turning the ball over to Kender Villegas, who got the loss by giving up an unearned run.  The offense was led by Houle yet again, who was 1-2 with 2 BB.

Game 5 at Fort Meyers: W 2-0

New Milwaukee Brewers prospect Bubba Derby made his first start for his new organization an impressive one, going 5.2 innings while giving up five hits, no walks and striking out 8.  The offense was led by DH George Iskenderian and C Fidel Pena going 2-4 and 2-3 respectively.

Game 6 against Fort Meyers: L 1-2

Brandon Woodruff makes his second start, and it’s another good one going six innings and giving up 2 ER.  Not much going offensively for the Manatees in this game, but Angel Ortega was 2-3, and CF Brandon Diaz was 1-2.

Game 7 at Fort Meyers: L 0-3

Angel Ventura went four innings giving up one run in his first start, but the Manatees couldn’t get anything going on offense and managed just three singles on the night.

Team leaders through the first week are C Dustin Houle batting .429 (6-14).  Houle was an 8th round pick for the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2011.  Bubba Derby is leading starters with a 0.00 ERA in 5.2 innings, but Brandon Woodruff (2.25 ERA in 12 innings), Angel Ventura (1.50 ERA in 6 innings) and Eric Hanhold (1.59 ERA in 5.2 innings) are also off to excellent starts, though it is very early.  Tyler Spurlin is leading the bullpen with a 0.00 ERA and two saves in 3.1 innings.