Marauders Blown Out by Mussels Wednesday Night

BRADENTON, Fla. — Marauders starter Eddy Yean served up a first-inning grand slam Wednesday night, and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels rode a pair of early rallies as Bradenton fell, 13-4, in the second game of the series.

Yean (0-1) struck out the game’s first batter before allowing a double, followed by three walks, the last of which forced home the game’s first run. Max Smith followed with a grand slam to right-center that put the Mighty Mussels (2-0) up 5-0 and knocked Yean from the game with one out.

Estalin Ortiz faced trouble of his own in relief of Yean. After the Marauders (0-2) plated two in the bottom of the first via an Endy Rodriguez solo homer and a Will Matthiessen RBI-single, Ortiz surrendered four runs in the second inning, walking three batters and hitting one to force home another run. Yunior Severino added a two-run single after Ortiz’s departure with two out in the second, and Fort Myers led 9-2 after two innings.

The Marauders scored just two more runs after the first inning, as Rodriguez scored from third on a wild pitch and Ethan Goforth delivered an RBI-single in the ninth.

Casey Legumina lasted three and one-third innings for the Mussels before giving way to Hunter McMahon (1-0), who tossed four and two-third scoreless innings.

Bradenton pitching issued a total of 11 walks, seven of which later came in to score.

Right-hander Logan Hofmann provided a bright spot in his professional debut for the Marauders, holding Fort Myers scoreless across the final three innings. He struck out seven, including striking out the side in order in the seventh, and retired nine of the 11 batters that he faced. Will Matthiessen led Bradenton with three hits, all singles.

The series against the Mighty Mussels continues Thursday night at 6:05 p.m. The Marauders will send RHP Santiago Florez against Fort Myers RHP Sean Mooney.