Threshers Plate Ten in Game Three Win
Clearwater, Fla. — On Thursday, the Marauders (20-16) took on Clearwater (27-9) in game three of the series at BayCare Ballpark. Bradenton was looking to snap a three-game road losing streak, but the result was once again in favor of the home team, with the Threshers winning in comfortable fashion
Clearwater, Fla. — On Thursday, the Marauders (20-16) took on Clearwater (27-9) in game three of the series at BayCare Ballpark. Bradenton was looking to snap a three-game road losing streak, but the result was once again in favor of the home team, with the Threshers winning in comfortable fashion by a score of 10-3.
The Marauders had a dream start when Jesus Castillo singled to lead off the game, extending his on-base streak to 13 games. Shalin Polanco followed two batters later with an RBI double into the right-center field gap to plate the game's first run and gave the 'Ders a one-run lead after half an inning played.
Clearwater responded with a pair of runs in the home half of first on a two-RBI triple to give the Threshers a one-run lead after an inning played. Alessandro Ercolani struck out five in his start, which lasted three innings; he would take the loss in the game to drop his record to 1-3 this season.
The Threshers would score three in the third and one more run in the fourth to give them a hearty 6-1 lead after just two trips through the lineup. The Marauders responded in the top of the fifth when Pirates #1 prospect Termarr Johnson drilled a solo home run to left to cut the deficit to four.
Nick Cimillo tripled to lead off the sixth and came into score when Mojica got the job done with a ground out deep in the hole behind second to allow Cimillo to score standing up.
Clearwater put the game away in the bottom of the eighth when they stamped four runs on the board to give themselves a seven-run advantage going into the ninth. The Marauders have led for only half an inning in any of this series's three games.
The Marauders got the first two men on in the ninth, but the next pair of batters struck out and then rolled into a twin kill to end the game. The best Bradenton can hope for now in the series is a 3-3 split if the Baby Buccos can sweep the weekend games.
Thomas Harrington is expected to start for the Marauders carrying his 4-0 record as a starter into the Friday night affair.