Marauders Sweep Doubleheader from Tarpons
June 18, 2021 - Florida State League (FSL)
Bradenton Marauders News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - Timely hitting and solid pitching led the Marauders to a doubleheader sweep against the Tampa Tarpons on Friday night, winning by scores of 3-1 and 8-2 at Steinbrenner Field.
The wins put the Marauders (26-14) a season-high 12 games over .500 and moved the team within one game of the West Division-leading Tarpons (27-13).
In the first game, Marauders starter Logan Hofmann dueled with Tampa (27-13) right-hander Randy Vasquez (1-2), trading zeroes through the first three innings. But with two outs in the top of the fourth, Ernny Ordonez reached base for the Marauders (26-14) on a fielding error by shortstop Anthony Volpe. Eli Wilson followed with a single, and Maikol Escotto drove a 1-2 pitch from Vasquez over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer.
Hofmann, making his first career start, allowed a solo home run to Juan de Leon in the fifth but was otherwise solid, striking out four over four and two-thirds innings. Enmanuel Mejia (3-0) earned the win in relief, stranding two inherited runners in the fifth and holding Tampa scoreless the rest of the way.
In the second game, the Marauders opened the floodgates against Tarpons starter Ryan Anderson (0-2). After back-to-back walks to Sammy Siani and Endy Rodriguez to open the game, Anderson threw a pitch in the dirt. Siani took third base, and a late throw to third from catcher Austin Wells bounced into left field, allowing Siani to score. The Marauders sent all nine batters in the order to the plate in the first inning, getting RBI-singles from Escotto and Dariel Lopez, as well as a run-scoring fielder's choice grounder from Sergio Campana, to chase Anderson from the game and build a 4-0 lead.
Nick Garcia, also making his first career start in the nightcap, labored through an inning and one-third with a high pitch count, but limited the damage to just one run in the second inning on a Jesus Bastida RBI-single. Cameron Junker took over for Garcia with the bases loaded and one out in the second, striking out two batters to escape the jam with a 4-1 lead intact.
Junker and Eddy Yean (2-1) combined to hold the Tarpons scoreless from the third through sixth innings.
Bradenton, meanwhile, added onto their lead, as Norkis Marcos contributed a bases-loaded walk in the third, Escotto lined another RBI-single in the fourth, and Rodriguez delivered a two-run single in the fifth to stretch the Marauders lead to 8-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, right-hander Alex Roth made his Marauders debut on the mound. After walking Bastidas, he struck out Trevor Hauver before allowing a double to Wells. Jake Sanford followed with a run-scoring infield single, and Sergio Umana took over on the mound, walking Andres Chaparro to load the bases before getting a flyout and a strikeout to end the game.
Bradenton pitchers walked a total of eight batters but stranded 10 Tampa baserunners.
Hudson Head struck out in each of his four at-bats in the first game for the Marauders, ending his team-high on-base streak at 25 games. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 in the second game and now leads the team with 10 multi-hit games.
The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field. RHP Adrian Florencio will start for the Marauders against RHP Beck Way for the Tarpons.
Florida State League Stories from June 18, 2021
- Late Rally Falls Short as Palm Beach Picks off Daytona, 4-2 - Daytona Tortugas
- Marauders Sweep Doubleheader from Tarpons - Bradenton Marauders
- Tampa Tumbles as Bradenton Sweeps Twin Bill - Tampa Tarpons
- First Inning Surge Earns Mussels 3-2 Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- DH Game Notes: Tampa Tarpons (27-11) vs. Bradenton Marauders (24-14) - Tampa Tarpons
- Jupiter Holds Slight Edge over St. Lucie Halfway Through Series - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Cardinals Outlast Tortugas in Offensive Exhibition, 11-10 - Daytona Tortugas
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