BRADENTON, FL - In the 10th home opener in the history of the Bradenton Marauders franchise, a late 2-RBI double from Elias Díaz while on Major League rehab helped the home side defeat the St. Lucie Mets for the third evening in a row to start the 2019 season in
BRADENTON, FL - In the 10th home opener in the history of the Bradenton Marauders franchise, a late 2-RBI double from Elias Díaz while on Major League rehab helped the home side defeat the St. Lucie Mets for the third evening in a row to start the 2019 season in front of 4,256 fans.
For the second straight night, the final score rested at 4-2 when the dust settled and OF Calvin Mitchell clubbed his second home run in as many nights, a towering solo shot with an out in the home half of the very first inning. Mitchell has recorded the only two home runs thus far on the young schedule for the Marauders. Diaz knocked his first of two doubles in the third inning and came in to score on a nifty base running play, swiping home when SS Oneil Cruz swiped second for the first of his eventual two steals on the night to tie the game at two runs each after the third inning. It was Elias Diaz that proved to be the hero of the first home game when he drove in the final two runs on a double to the wall in right-center field that scored the final runs of the game.
After LHP Oddy Nunez gave up both St. Lucie runs over 3.1 innings in his first outing of the year including five walks, RHP Hunter Stratton outlasted the starting pitcher, firing 3.2 innings of his own in a victory on the mound that included a single hit and walk for the Mets and four strikeouts to move to 1-0 on the young season. RHP Joel Cesar slammed the door on the visitors, earning a six out save over two perfect frames that included a pair of strikeouts for his second save in as many tries over the first three games.
Bradenton and St. Lucie wrap up their home-and-home four game set Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park with a starter TBD for the Marauders up against RHP Kyle Wilson for the Mets at 1 pm. Catch all the action with Matt Neverett on the Bradenton Marauders Baseball Network by visiting BradentonMarauders.com, TuneIn Radio, MiLB.tv, or the MiLB First Pitch app!
