Marauders Edge Mets 4-3
Published on April 26, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
St. Lucie Mets News Release
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 26, 2014) - The Bradenton Marauders came from behind and held off the St. Lucie Mets for an exciting 4-3 win on Saturday at Tradition Field.
Trailing 2-0 in the fourth, the Marauders were able to score the next four runs and hold off a furious rally by the Mets in the ninth.
Pat Ludwig, on in his third inning of relief, got Jairo Perez to pop out to right field on a 3-2 count with the tying run at third base and the winning run at second to end the ball game.
With two outs in the ninth, Brandon Nimmo singled and advance to second on an error to keep the Mets' hope alive. After Ludwig walked T.J. Rivera, Nimmo and Rivera double stole third and second. However, Perez couldn't come through with the clutch hit.
Chad Kuhl scattered nine hits and two runs over six strong innings. Ludwig earned his first save after limiting the Mets to one run in three innings.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead on RBI base hits by Nimmo and Cam Maron in the first inning. Jose Osuna tied the game in the fourth with a two-run double.
Small ball ended up being the difference for the Marauders. In the sixth, Eric Wood reached on an infield single and stole second. With two outs, he scored on a base hit up the middle to make it 3-2 Bradenton.
The Mets thought they tied the game in their half of the sixth. Eudy Pina laced a one-out triple to the right field. Maikis De La Cruz followed with a ground ball to second baseman Max Moroff, who threw home. Catcher Jacob Stallings applied the tag on Pina on a bang-bang play at the plate and home plate umpire Michael Wiseman called Pina out, preserving the Marauders lead. Mets manager Ryan Ellis argued the call and was ejected.
Bradenton added a big run in the seventh. Adam Frazier stole second base with two outs and came home on a bloop single to center field by Josh Bell on a ball that popped out of Rivera's glove on a diving attempt. The run made it 4-2 and the Marauders hung on for the nail-biting win.
Tapia took the loss for the Mets. He pitched six innings and gave up three runs.
Rivera went 3 for 4 and improved his league-leading average to .410. Nimmo went 3 for 5 and is second in the FSL with a .393 average.
The Mets fell to 0-8 in games they scored less than five runs.
The Mets (13-9) and Marauders (13-9) are tied for first place in the FSL South Division. They meet in the series rubber match at Tradition Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 26, 2014
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- Marauders Edge Mets 4-3 - St. Lucie Mets
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