FSL Bradenton Marauders

Diamond's Dominant Start Launches Marauders to Victory

Published on July 18, 2023 under Florida State League (FSL)
Bradenton Marauders News Release


Bradenton, Fla.--- The Marauders (14-5, 49-35) and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (8-11, 42-43) met for the first game of a six-game series at LECOM Park on a cool and breezy Tuesday night in the Friendly City. Bradenton starting pitcher Derek Diamond tossed a career-high seven innings to lay the foundation for a 5-2 victory.

The Mighty Mussels and Marauders are set to meet in 18 of the final 48 games in the regular season, and Bradenton came out swinging in the first frame to set the tone.

Jack Brannigan stepped into the box after a perfect top of the first from Diamond on the mound. He crushed the first pitch of the inning to dead centerfield to give the Young Bucs an early 1-0 advantage.

Diamond carved through the Mussels all night long and faced his only real run-scoring threat in the top of the fourth inning. Ft. Myers managed to get two men on with no outs in the inning, setting up Carlos Aguiar, who poked a ball through the left side of the infield to level the score at 1-1.

Aside from the lone tally in the fourth, Derek Diamond was untouchable. In innings 5-7, the Ole Miss product set down nine men in a row while striking out five total batters across his seven innings of work. Diamond collected his team-leading eighth win of the year as a result of his season-best performance.

The Marauders grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a clutch two-out two-run blast off the bat of Lonnie White Jr., his first four-bagger at the Single-A level, to make it a 3-1 game in favor of the home side.

Bradenton added a run in the seventh and eighth innings to put themselves ahead by three runs entering the ninth inning.

Elijah Birdson was called upon in the ninth to shut the Mussels down. The right-handed sinkerballer punched out a pair and breezed through the bottom of the Ft. Myers order on the way to seal the 5-2 win and collect his fifth save of the year.

The Marauder's current five-game win streak sits just two games shy of their season best of seven in a row.

Game Two is set for Noon on Wednesday, with Luis Peralta expected to get the starting nod of the Young Buccos.

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Florida State League Stories from July 18, 2023


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