Early Bird Gets the Worm: Bradenton Cruises to 10-2 Sunday Victory

BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Marauders picked up a series victory on Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park after defeating the Clearwater Threshers 10-2.

Bradenton jumped on Threshers’ starter Brandon Beckel (2-1) early by scoring six runs in the first. A pair of walks to Keiner Delgado and Esmerlyn Valdez and a single by Omar Alfonzo loaded the bases for Shalin Polanco who doubled home two runs. Axiel Plaz then singled home another pair of runs to make it 4-0 before Javier Rivas clubbed a home run into the Kona Bar in centerfield to complete the six-run inning. It was Rivas’ second longball of the week and third over the last eight days. The six-run first was the highest scoring inning by the Marauders this season.

In the second, Delgado reached on error and Alfonzo singled to place runners on the corners with one-out. Valdez smacked a ball to left field to score another and extend the Bradenton lead to 7-0. Plaz then blasted a three-run home run to push the lead to 10-0 in the second. The Marauders catcher finished with five RBIs, the most by a Bradenton hitter this year.

Clearwater plated their only runs of the contest in the fourth against Connor Oliver. Keaton Anthony singled to start the frame and then scored on a Pierce Bennett triple to cut the Bradenton lead to 10-1. Tyler Kennedy then entered in for Oliver to face Jared Thomas who singled through the hole on the right side of the infield to trim the deficit again to 10-2.

Carlos Jimenez (2-2) struck out eight across four scoreless frames with Mike Walsh hurling a scoreless ninth to close out the ballgame.

Valdez finished the week 7-for-15 with a double, triple, two home runs, four RBIs, five walks, and eight runs scored.

After an off day on Monday, the Marauders travel to nearby Dunedin to start a six-game road series at TD Ballpark on Tuesday night. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:10 p.m. on the Marauders Broadcast Network.