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© 2007 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved. |
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Manatees starter Lluberes X's Rays 04/23/2007 10:32 PM ETBy Chip Haunss / Special to MLB.com
Rafael Lluberes tossed six innings of one-hit ball to lead host Brevard County past Vero Beach, 7-1, on Monday. Lluberes was dominant, striking out eight and walking four before he was replaced at the start of the seventh inning. The 6-foot-4 left-hander retired the first seven batters he faced before issuing a one-out walk to Christopher Cunningham. He yielded his only hit to Hunter Vick leading off the fourth. Lluberes attributed his success to mixing speeds and changing locations. "I tried to make my pitches ... throwing a fastball in and a changeup away and it worked for me," the 22-year-old said. Lluberes added he felt good warming up in the bullpen and was able to bring that to the mound with him. He only struck out five in his first three games of the season, so his success Monday against the Devil Rays surprised him. "I am a pitcher that changes speeds and makes [the opponent] hit the ball, but they were missing my pitches," he said. The Manatees jumped out to an early lead with a four-run first behind Cole Gillespie's two-run double and Carlos Corporan's two-RBI single. Corporan finished the game 2-for-4 and Mat Gamel drove in a run and scored once for Brevard County (8-8). Vero Beach starter Jacob McGee (1-1) was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on six hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out one. Christian Lopez had the Devil Rays' only other hit and Cunningham drove in the only run for Vero Beach (7-9), which had its four-game winning streak snapped. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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