Flying Tigers Walk-Off Marauders 7-6 in 10 Innings

LAKELAND, FL — In a game that featured several lead changes, the Bradenton Marauders were defeated by the Lakeland Flying Tigers 7-6 in 10 innings on Friday night at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Bradenton’s offense came out firing in the first few innings. Jesus Castillo worked a leadoff walk in the top of the first inning before Omar Alfonzo clubbed a two-run home run a few batters later to push the Marauders in front 2-0.

The Marauders replicated that same success in the third after Jack Herman led off the frame with a walk. He then scored on a Shalin Polanco two-run blast to right-center field, and the Marauders doubled their advantage to 4-0.

After Carlson Reed tossed two scoreless innings, the Flying Tigers pushed across their first runs in the third. Dom Johnson walked, stole second base and scored on a Samuel Gil double to trim the lead to 4-1. Gil then scored on a Clayton Campbell single to make it 4-2 Bradenton.

Bradenton held the lead until the sixth, when Jose De La Cruz crushed a go-ahead three-run home run to left-center field to hand Lakeland their first lead of the contest at 5-4. Later in the inning, Johnson singled and scored on a Max Clark RBI base hit to give the Flying Tigers their largest advantage of the night at 6-4.

The lead didn’t last for long for Lakeland. With two outs and two strikes in the seventh, Esmerlyn Valdez hit a game-tying two-run home run down the left field line to notch things up at six a piece.

Lakeland threatened in the bottom of the ninth after John Peck and David Smith worked a pair of two-out walks against Hunter Furtado who got Cristian Santana to pop out to force extra innings.

Bradenton held a handful of chances to retake the lead late. With runners at first and third and one out in each of the ninth and tenth innings, the Marauders failed to score a run either time against Luke Stofel and Patrick Pridgen (1-0).

In the bottom of the tenth, Santana was placed at second base as the extra runner and would end up stealing third base on an attempted bunt attempt by pinch-hitter Brett Callahan. Callahan then singled back up the middle against Garrett McMillan (0-1) to score Santana and defeat the Marauders 7-6 in 10 innings.

The Marauders will continue their six-game series against the Flying Tigers on Saturday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 5:40 pm on the Marauders Broadcast Network. Bradenton will send LHP Michael Kennedy to the hill, he goes opposite of LHP Andrew Sears for the Flying Tigers.