Jerez Slam Powers Marauders to Comeback Win
Published on July 24, 2022 under Florida State League (FSL)
Bradenton Marauders News Release
CLEARWATER, Fla. - After trailing since the first inning, the Marauders rode a go-ahead grand slam by Juan Jerez to an eventual 7-3 win over the Clearwater Threshers on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark.
The win positions the Marauders (15-8, 44-44) for a chance at a third consecutive series win in Sunday's finale.
With Clearwater (8-15, 43-45) leading, 2-0, the Marauders loaded the bases with two walks and a single against Threshers reliever Alex Garbrick in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Rodolfo Sanchez replaced Garbrick and immediately got Maikol Escotto to pop out. But the next batter, Juan Jerez, drove a 2-1 pitch from Sanchez over the right field wall for a grand slam to give Bradenton a 4-2 lead.
The Marauders went on to extend their lead in the seventh. Singles by Wyatt Hendrie and Jase Bowen, along with a Tsung-Che Cheng walk, loaded the bases once more against Sanchez. Left-hander Jared Wetherbee took over and forced home a run with a walk to Angel Basabe. After recovering with two strikeouts, Wetherbee proceeded to walk both Escotto and Jerez before escaping the seventh, stretching Bradenton's lead to 7-2.
Jerez's resulting five-RBI performance established a new season-high and matched his career-high.
The Threshers had jumped in front in the first inning, loading the bases on Marauders starter Joelvis del Rosario, who allowed a two-run single to Andrick Nava for the game's first two runs.
The score remained 2-0 until Bradenton's sixth inning comeback. Del Rosario recovered to finish his night with four scoreless innings after the first, allowing just two baserunners in the rest of his outing. Threshers starter Gunner Mayer, meanwhile, fanned a career-high nine batters over four scoreless innings, stymying the Marauders before their offensive eruption.
Johan Montero pitched a scoreless sixth for Bradenton, working around a Marcus Lee Sang triple and a walk to Nava. Wilkin Ramos pitched the seventh and allowed a leadoff triple to Jamari Baylor, who scored on an Erick Brito one-out infield single, but Ramos ended the game on back-to-back strikeouts of Hao-Yu Lee and Lee Sang.
The Marauders will play for the series win on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at BayCare Ballpark. RHP Po-Yu Chen will start for the Marauders, while Clearwater has yet to announce its starting pitcher.
Florida State League Stories from July 24, 2022
- 'Tugas Topple Cardinals with Four-Hit Shutout, 3-0 - Daytona Tortugas
- Keoni Cavaco Leads Fort Myers to Series Sweep of D-Jays - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Eighth Inning Rally Lifts Threshers to Series Win over Marauders - Clearwater Threshers
- Bats Come Alive, Mets Wallop Hammerheads 8-3 - St. Lucie Mets
- Jerez Slam Powers Marauders to Comeback Win - Bradenton Marauders
- Sixth, Seventh Innings Doom Threshers in 7-3 Loss to Marauders - Clearwater Threshers
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