Marauders Unable to Hold Lead in Sunday Loss

BRADENTON, Fla. — Another back-and-forth series finale saw three lead changes between the Marauders and Daytona Tortugas on Sunday afternoon, eventually resulting in an 8-6 loss for the Marauders at LECOM Park.

The loss halted a four-game winning streak for the Marauders (23-13) and snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tortugas (15-21).

Hudson Head launched a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first to give the Marauders an instant 1-0 lead. The Tortugas quickly tied the score in the second, as Wendell Marrero singled and later scored on a fielding error by shortstop Norkis Marcos, but Marcos atoned for his with a go-ahead RBI-double to left field error in the bottom of the second.

But the 2-1 Marauders lead disappeared in the fourth, as starter Adrian Florencio labored on the mound. Danny Lantigua, who had entered the game in left field in the bottom of the third for Marrero, tied the score with a solo homer to right field. A single and a walk followed, and Florencio allowed back-to-back RBI-singles to Rafael Franco and Gus Steiger for a 4-2 Daytona advantage.

The fifth inning saw Bradenton push back against Tortugas starter Jason Parker. The Marauders, loading the bases on a single and two walks, got an RBI-single from Jase Bowen to close the deficit to one run, and after right-hander Manuel Cachutt entered in relief, Sammy Siani worked a walk, forcing home the tying run. With the bases still loaded, Alexander Mojica then hit a grounder to third baseman Reyny Reyes, who threw home to force out Head, but catcher Wilfred Astudillo’s ensuing throw to first base inadvertently hit Mojica, bouncing into right field and allowing two runs to score, giving the Marauders a 6-4 lead.

Astudillo, however, led off the sixth inning with a solo homer off Oliver Mateo, and after a scoreless seventh inning by Marauders left-hander Brayan Roman, reliever Sergio Umana (0-1) ran into trouble in the eighth. He allowed a single to Astudillo and then served up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Leo Seminati, and Steven Leyton delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Franco for an 8-6 Daytona lead despite a strong throw home from Siani.

The Marauders failed to score after the fifth-inning rally, as Cachutt, Jake Gozzo (1-3), and Vin Timpanelli combined to hold Bradenton scoreless the rest of the way. Both the eighth and ninth innings saw the Marauders get their leadoff batter on base, but both innings ended in double plays, including a catcher-to-shortstop-to-first double play by Mojica that ended the game.

The Marauders will travel to Tampa on Tuesday to open a six-game series against the Tampa Tarpons. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field. Both teams have yet to announce their starting pitchers.