Missed Opportunities Abound in 5-4 Marauders Loss
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Marauders stayed close to the St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday afternoon, but whiffed on many pivotal run-producing opportunities and never took a lead in an eventual 5-4 loss to the St. Lucie Mets at Clover Park. The Marauders (42-25) went just 3-for-13 with men
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Marauders stayed close to the St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday afternoon, but whiffed on many pivotal run-producing opportunities and never took a lead in an eventual 5-4 loss to the St. Lucie Mets at Clover Park.
The Marauders (42-25) went just 3-for-13 with men in scoring position and stranded eight runners. Bradenton has now lost four of its last five games, with three of the losses coming by just one-run margins.
St. Lucie (36-32) got to Marauders starter Luis Ortiz for a first-inning run on a Jose Peroza RBI-single, and Mets right-hander Junior Santos held the Marauders scoreless until the fourth inning, when Hudson Head tied the game with his team-leading 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center.
The Mets quickly retook the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth when Peroza singled and eventually scored on an Ortiz wild pitch. Ortiz rebounded in the fifth, striking out the side in order in what turned out to be his final inning.
Bradenton tied the score again, 2-2, in the sixth inning as Dariel Lopez singled and soon scored on a throwing error from third base by Peroza. But Ernny Ordonez struck out with two out to strand the go-ahead run at third base, and St. Lucie again rebounded in the home half off reliever Sergio Umana (0-3), as Peroza delivered an RBI-double for his third hit of the game, then scored on Jimmy Titus bloop single for a 4-2 Mets lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Marauders fought back once more. With the bases loaded and none out, Head delivered an RBI-groundout and Dariel Lopez knotted the game, 4-4, with an RBI-single to center. But Bradenton once again failed to claim the lead, as Maikol Escotto was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on a wild pitch by Luis Montas, and Jack Herman struck out, stranding Lopez as the go-ahead run on second.
St. Lucie regained the lead for the final time in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases and bringing home the go-ahead run against Alex Roth, who walked Branden Fryman to force home Alex Ramirez. Roth recovered for an inning-ending strikeout, but the Marauders were unable to capitalize on a Daniel Rivero single and a Head walk in the ninth, leaving the tying and go-ahead runs stranded.
Montas (5-0) earned the win in relief with two and two-thirds scoreless innings behind Santos, who lasted six-plus innings but surrendered eight hits.
Peroza led the Mets with four hits and two RBI, while Rivero led Bradenton with a season-high three hits. Head, Lopez, and Eli Wilson recorded two hits each for the Marauders.
The series continues Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 p.m. at Clover Park. RHP Domingo Gonzalez will start for the Marauders against RHP Oscar Rojas for the Mets.
For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call (941) 747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com, or email [email protected].