Marauders Split Doubleheader with Threshers
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Marauders were held to one hit and no runs in a 3-0 loss in the opener of Thursday’s doubleheader before returning the favor in a 5-0 win in the nightcap against the Clearwater Threshers at LECOM Park. The first game saw the Threshers (30-27) jump out
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Marauders were held to one hit and no runs in a 3-0 loss in the opener of Thursday’s doubleheader before returning the favor in a 5-0 win in the nightcap against the Clearwater Threshers at LECOM Park.
The first game saw the Threshers (30-27) jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Marauders (37-20) starter Santiago Florez (5-2). Johan Rojas hit a one-out single and scored on a double by Kendall Simmons, but Florez recovered to hold Clearwater scoreless over the next four innings, striking out eight and allowing just three hits over five strong innings.
But the Marauders offense sputtered behind Florez. Threshers starter Cristian Hernandez issued six walks across four and two-thirds innings, but Bradenton was unable to capitalize on multiple run-scoring opportunities, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine runners across the game’s seven innings.
Clearwater, meanwhile, added two runs in the seventh for a 3-0 lead on a pair of Marauders errors, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Reliever Gabriel Yanez (4-0) pitched the final two and one-third innings to earn the victory.
Endy Rodriguez recorded the Marauders’ only hit, a groundball single to right field in the fourth inning that extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games. Maikol Escotto went 0-for-3 with a walk, extending his on-base streak to 17 games.
In the second game, right-hander Nick Garcia (4-2) dominated across a career-high five innings. Making just his fourth career start, Garcia held the Threshers hitless over his first four innings before allowing an infield single to Nicolas Torres to open the fifth.
Garcia received plenty of run support, as Francisco Acuna launched a three-run homer to left field in the second inning off Clearwater starter Rodolfo Sanchez (0-3), who was finished after two innings. Bradenton added a pair of runs in the fifth, as Hudson Head lined an RBI-single to right and Sergio Campana scored on a balk by reliever Anton Kuznetsov.
Oliver Mateo pitched the final two innings in relief, retiring all six batters he faced, including four strikeouts.
Rodriguez went 0-for-1 with a pair of walks as the designated hitter in the nightcap, ending his hitting streak at eight games but extending his on-base streak to nine games.
The shutout was the Marauders’ sixth of the season and just their second at home.
The series continues Friday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at LECOM Park. RHP Logan Hofmann will start for the Marauders against RHP Mick Abel for the Threshers.
For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call (941) 747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com, or email [email protected].