Marauders Blank Flying Tigers on Fourth

LAKELAND, Fla. — Valentin Linarez and Johan Montero combined for a Marauders five-hit shutout of the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Independence Day at Publix Field.

Linarez became the first Marauders pitcher to work into the seventh inning this season, finishing with five strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one walk over six and one-third innings.

Montero pitched the final two and two-thirds innings in relief for Bradenton (5-5, 34-41), striking out five and allowing just one hit, an eighth-inning single.

The Marauders rallied for four runs in the first inning off Flying Tigers (6-3, 38-37) starter Wilkel Hernandez. For the second straight game, Bradenton’s first inning at the plate featured three consecutive singles by Tsung-Che Cheng, Jase Bowen, and Deivis Nadal, loading the bases. Rodolfo Nolasco plated the first run on a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop Cristian Santana, and Sergio Campana followed with another grounder to short that saw Santana flip to second baseman Manuel Sequera for a force out, but Sequera’s ensuing throw to first base on an attempted double play sailed wildly, scoring two runs for a 3-0 Bradenton lead. Wyatt Hendrie then reached on a fielder’s choice, took third base on a fielding error by third baseman Izaac Pacheco, and scored on a Hernandez balk, capping a 4-0 Marauders romp.

Hernandez settled down to hold Bradenton scoreless over his final four innings, but Linarez settled into a groove on the mound for the Marauders. The right-hander allowed a leadoff single to Santana in the first and saw a two-out fielding error at short by Cheng place runners on the corners, but a flyout lifted Linarez from the jam, and Bradenton’s starter cruised through his next four innings with just one baserunner allowed, a fourth-inning single by Roberto Campos.

Randy Romero lined an RBI-single to left field in the sixth inning off Lakeland reliever Tyler Mattison to wrap the Marauders’ scoring for the evening.

Linarez left the game in the seventh with one out and runners on first and second, and Montero squelched the Flying Tigers threat with two strikeouts to end the inning.

All five hits allowed by the two Marauders hurlers were singles, with two each coming from Santana and Campos. Lakeland placed just three runners into scoring position during the game and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Following a day off Tuesday for both teams, the series resumes Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Publix Field. The Marauders have yet to announce their starting pitcher, while Lakeland will start RHP Garrett Burhenn.

For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call (941) 747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com, or email [email protected].

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