Mother’s Day History: Marauders Walk-Off Mets 12-11 in Extras for Franchise Record
BRADENTON, FL — Afte the lead was exchanged six times at LECOM Park, Esmerlyn Valdez singled to centerfield in the 10th inning to deliver the Bradenton Marauders their third walk-off win of the week against the St. Lucie Mets and their 10th-straight win with a 12-11 victory on Sunday afternoon.
BRADENTON, FL — Afte the lead was exchanged six times at LECOM Park, Esmerlyn Valdez singled to centerfield in the 10th inning to deliver the Bradenton Marauders their third walk-off win of the week against the St. Lucie Mets and their 10th-straight win with a 12-11 victory on Sunday afternoon.
In the tenth with the game tied at 10, Danny Carrion (1-0) retired the first two batters before Boston Baro singled home the extra-runner Marco Vargas to take an 11-10 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Jeral Toledo doubled home Kalae Harrison on the second pitch of the inning against Jawilme Ramirez (1-1) to tie the game at 11 again. After Eddy Rodriguez hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Toledo to third base, Omar Alfonzo was intentionally walked to bring up Valdez who won the ballgame for Bradenton.
St. Lucie started the game with a five-run second inning to jump ahead before Bradenton cut into the deficit in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from Harrison and a double from Toledo to make it 5-2 Mets.
Bradenton took the lead for the first time after a five-run third that was highlighted by a Solomon Maguire RBI double and a three-run double from Harrison. Harrison became just the third Marauder this year to drive in four or more runs in a game.
With Bradenton holding a 7-5 lead after three innings, Peyton Stumbo struck out five in two scoreless keep the Mets at bay before Yohairo Cuevas doubled in Baro to cut the Marauders lead to 7-6. After Vargas singled to begin the sixth, Jesus Baez hit a go-ahead two-run home run to lead against at 8-7.
The Marauders answered right away with a three-run sixth on a two-RBI double from Alfonzo who ended up scoring on a passed ball from Ronald Hernandez to push Bradenton ahead at 10-8.
Connor Oliver walked Vargas to start the eighth before Baez popped out. Oliver then departed after 3.1 innings for closer Landon Tomkins. The first two batters reached on a hit by pitch and walk to load the bases for Hernandez. After Hernandez struck out on a 13-pitch at-bat, Cuevas doubled down the right field line to score two and tie the game at 10. Neither side threatened in the ninth before Bradenton won it in the 10th inning. Bradenton finished their longest homestand of the season with an 11-1 record.
The Marauders played their 15th one-run game of the season on Saturday, now owning an 8-7 record. 23 of their first 33 games have been decided by three-runs or less.
After an off day on Monday, the Marauders travel to Tampa to start a six-game series against the Tarpons at George M. Steinbrenner Field. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:10 p.m. on the Marauders Broadcast Network.