Oh So Close: Marauders Fall Short in Lakeland for Second Straight Night
Published on April 13, 2024 under Florida State League (FSL)
Bradenton Marauders News Release
LAKELAND, FL - The Bradenton Marauders and Lakeland Flying Tigers exchanged leads four times before Lakeland came out on top of Bradenton 4-3 on Saturday night at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
For the third straight evening, Bradenton plated the game's first runs. In the top of the third, the first five Marauders reached base safely. Juan Jerez singled and P.J. Hilson reached on error to place two runners on base for Jesus Castillo who singled home Jerez to give Bradenton a 1-0 advantage. Two batters later, Omar Alfonzo worked a bases loaded walk to score Hilson, and the Marauders doubled their lead to 2-0.
Lakeland answered in the bottom of the third against Michael Kennedy. Eduardo Valencia, David Smith, and Max Clark each tallied singles to load the bases for Clayton Campbell with one out. The Flying Tigers infielder hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Valencia and cut the Bradenton lead to 2-1.
In the fourth with two runners on base, Valencia hit a towering flyball to centerfield that was lost in the sun and dropped for a hit. Jose De La Cruz raced around from second base to score and tie the game at two. Kennedy ended up striking out a season-high six batters in 3.1 innings.
Bradenton retook the lead in the fifth on a Jack Herman RBI single against Zach Lee (1-0) before Lakeland ultimately took the final lead change of the night in the sixth against Tyler Kennedy (0-1). Kennedy recorded two outs while also issuing a pair of walks to Valencia and Samuel Gil to bring up Max Clark. The Detroit Tigers No. 1 prospect laced a double down the right field line to score both runners and take a 4-3 lead.
Donye Evans (SV,1) tossed two scoreless innings to slam the door on the Marauders comeback attempt.
Out of the bullpen, Yoldin De La Paz struck out four in 1.2 scoreless innings. On the season, the southpaw has racked up eight strikeouts in 4.2 scoreless frames.
The Marauders wrap up their road series against the Flying Tigers on Sunday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 11:40 am on the Marauders Broadcast Network. Bradenton will send RHP Khristian Curtis to the hill as he goes opposite of RHP Cole Stupp for the Flying Tigers.
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