Marauders win thriller 8-7 on walk-off vs. Mets

BRADENTON, Fla. (May 10, 2024) – The Bradenton Marauders tallied another walk-off win against the St. Lucie Mets, 8-7, on Friday night at LECOM Park.

Bradenton has won all four games of the series this week. The Marauders also got a walk-off win 3-2 on Wednesday.

The Mets have now suffered five walk-off defeats in their 16 road games this season, including in three of their last five. Bradenton won its eighth straight game and is now 9-1 on its 12-game homestand. The Mets have lost seven consecutive games.

On Friday, the game was tied 7-7 with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth. Shalin Polanco hit a hustle double into right-center field against Ernesto Mercedes to keep the inning going. Eddy Rodriguez followed with a game-winning single into center field to bring home Polanco for the 8-7 victory.

The loss was especially painful for the Mets, as they overcame a 6-0 deficit through four innings to take a 7-6 lead in the seventh. The one-run lead was brief. Bradenton tied the game in the home seventh. Mercedes walked Jarel Toledo and then a pair of passed balls on catcher Ronald Herandez moved Toledo to third. With two outs and two strikes on Polanco, Mercedes uncorked a wild pitch that brought home Toledo to tie the game 7-7.

The Marauders scored five runs against Mets starter Jack Wenninger before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first inning. Leading 1-0, the Marauders loaded the bases for Esmerlyn Valdez, who hit a high fly to left-center field. Donovan Antonia missed a leaping catch at the wall and the ball caromed to shallow center. By the time Antonia retrieved it Valdez scored on an inside-the-park home run to make it 5-0.

Wenninger recovered and retired nine straight batters. Solomon Maguire ended the streak when he led off the fourth with a home run for a 6-0 lead.

The Mets began their big comeback in the fifth on a RBI single by Kevin Villavicencio that plated Boston Baro.

Jeffry Rosa clubbed a solo homer in the sixth to make it 6-2. It was Rosa’s first home of the season.

Baro continued the inning with a double and Jose Hernandez followed with a two-run homer, his first of the season, that made it 6-4.

The Mets scored three runs in the sixth to take a 7-6 advantage. Jesus Baez hit a RBI double to make it 6-5. The double extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Later in the inning with two outs, Baro laced two-run single to turn a one-run deficit into a one-run lead.

Baro went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI.

Eight of the nine batters in the Mets lineup registered a hit. All nine reached base.

Wenninger, who was in line for a win, ended up taking a no decision. He matched his season high with 6.0 innings pitched and 10 strikeouts.

Mercedes took the loss. He pitched 2.2 innings and gave up two runs while walking five and striking out six.

Bradenton reliever Landon Tomkins was credited with the win. He pitched 1.1 perfect innings on just six pitches.

The Mets (12-19) and Marauders (13-18) play the fifth game of their series at LECOM Park on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.