Jerez's Heroics Spark Extra-Inning Win
Published on August 5, 2022 under Florida State League (FSL)
Bradenton Marauders News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Juan Jerez hit a pinch-hit RBI-double in the tenth inning Friday night and made a heads-up baserunning decision in a 4-3 Marauders win over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels at Hammond Stadium.
The win, along with a Tampa Tarpons loss, put the Marauders (21-13, 50-49) back into a two-way tie for first place in the West Division standings. Bradenton is now 5-0 in extra-inning games this sesaon.
With the score tied, 2-2, Juan Jerez pinch-hit for Norkis Marcos to begin the top of the tenth inning. Jerez drove right-hander Malik Barrington's first pitch to deep center field to plate extra-inning baserunner Wyatt Hendrie from second base for the go-ahead run. Jerez then stole third base and raced home shortly thereafter when a routine throw by catcher LaRon Smith back to Barrington tipped of the pitcher's glove and rolled away.
In the bottom of the tenth, Wilkin Ramos allowed a two-out RBI-double to Rubel Cespedes but recovered to get Smith out on a game-ending groundout to first base.
The game began with a tight pitching duel between Marauders righty Valentin Linarez and Fort Myers spot starter Johnathan Lavallee. Linarez was stingy, tossing six innings and allowing just two hits and one run on a third-inning sacrifice fly by Noah Miller for the game's first run. Lavallee, meanwhile, dominated in four hitless innings, retiring 12 of his 13 batters faced with a Rodolfo Nolasco walk in the first inning as his only baserunner allowed.
Bradenton took the lead, 2-1, in the sixth against southpaw John Wilson. Norkis Marcos led off with an infield single and took second base on a Tsung-Che Cheng bunt single, but Marcos was thrown out at third base by Wilson on an early steal. Nolasco, however, followed with a walk, and both Cheng and Nolasco advanced on a wild pitch. Jase Bowen then lined a game-tying single to right field, and Bubba Chandler followed with a go-ahead bloop single to right field that narrowly dropped in front of a sliding attempt by right fielder Carlos Aguiar.
After a scoreless seventh in relief by the Marauders' Johan Montero, the right-hander saw the lead slip away in the eighth. Miller led off the inning by reaching second base on a dropped catch in right-center by Sergio Campana, then scored the tying run on a Cespedes single to center off Ramos. The Bradenton righty, however, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the inning with a deep flyout to right field by Aguiar.
Marauders pitching stranded 11 baserunners and held Fort Myers to a 2-for-15 mark with runners in scoring position.
Bowen and Deivis Nadal led the Marauders with two hits each in the game, with the former being named Florida State League Player of the Month for July earlier in the day.
The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hammond Stadium. RHP Joelvis Del Rosario will start for the Marauders, while Fort Myers will start RHP Mike Paredes.
For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call (941) 747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com.
Florida State League Stories from August 5, 2022
- Mets Come Back from Down 6, Clip Tortugas in 10 - St. Lucie Mets
- Jerez's Heroics Spark Extra-Inning Win - Bradenton Marauders
- Baylor's Last Minute Blast Beats Tarpons, 1-0 - Tampa Tarpons
- Creal's Multi-Homer Game Not Enough in Tortugas' Extra-Inning Loss - Daytona Tortugas
- Cardinals Fall on Friday Night - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Cespedes' Clutch Hits Come up Short in 4-3 Extra-Inning Loss - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Baylor's Last Minute Blast Beats Tarpons, 1-0 - Tampa Tarpons
- Fireworks, Marvel's Defenders of the Diamond, 'The Nine' Nights Highlight Start of Tortugas' Two-Week Homestand - Daytona Tortugas
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