Marauders Drop Finale in Lakeland, 7-2
Published on September 19, 2021 under Florida State League (FSL)
Bradenton Marauders News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. - An early lead vanished on a Bradenton throwing error Sunday afternoon, and the Marauders fell to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 7-2, in the regular-season finale at Publix Field.
The Marauders (71-48) finish the regular season on a four-game losing streak, the team's longest of the season. Bradenton committed three errors Sunday, and a total of 13 in the six-game series.
In the top of the first inning, the Marauders loaded the bases with none out on a Sammy Siani single, a Daniel Rivero walk, and a Dariel Lopez infield single. Jase Bowen delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Siani, but the Marauders left runners stranded on the corners at the end of the inning.
Right-hander Po-Yu Chen (1-1) struggled in the bottom half of the inning. A walk and a single put two Flying Tigers (55-63) runners on base with one out, and Chris Meyers followed with a double to left field that Jase Bowen was unable to catch on a diving attempt. J.D. McLaughlin scored the tying run from second base, and as Ben Malgeri advanced to third base from first, shortstop Maikol Escotto threw wildly past third baseman Alexander Mojica and into the Marauders dugout, scoring Malgeri for the go-ahead run.
The Flying Tigers would not look back. After Chen delivered a scoreless second inning, Meyers lined his second RBI-double of the game in the third inning, then scored on a Kingston Liniak single, extending Lakeland's lead to 4-1.
Nick Quintana delivered a sacrifice fly for Lakeland in the fourth inning, Chen's final inning of work, giving the Flying Tigers a 5-1 advantage. The Marauders defense persisted on the play, as McLaughlin, who began the play on first base, was thrown out at second base by catcher Dylan Shockley after attempting to advance on right fielder Daniel Rivero's throw home.
Flying Tigers starter Carlos Guzman (7-9) pitched effectively through five innings, retiring 13 Marauders hitters in a row from the first inning into the fifth. The streak ended when Francisco Acuna lined a double to left field and scored on a Dylan Shockley single up the middle, trimming Bradenton's deficit to 5-2.
Lakeland, however, responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half against Marauders reliever Alex Roth. Meyers hit his third double of the game and scored on another double by Liniak, and the Flying Tigers capped the afternoon's scoring with an Esney Chacon sacrifice fly to right field.
Roth, Oliver Mateo, and Carlos Campos combined to hold Lakeland scoreless over their final three innings at the plate. Bradenton managed just two baserunners over their last three innings, including a two-out double by Escotto in the ninth. Relievers Williander Moreno, Luke Sommerfeld, and Aaron Haase tossed a combined four scoreless innings in relief for the Flying Tigers.
The Marauders will open postseason play on Tuesday at LECOM Park against the Tampa Tarpons. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from September 19, 2021
- Mighty Mussels Finish Season with 5-4 Comeback Win over Tarpons - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Marauders Drop Finale in Lakeland, 7-2 - Bradenton Marauders
- Mets Beat Jupiter in Finale, Claim East Division Title - St. Lucie Mets
- Tortugas Outlast Cardinals in Wild Extra-Inning Affair to Close out Season - Daytona Tortugas
- Offense Stalls Again as Lakeland Claims Closing Series - Bradenton Marauders
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