Marauders take series opener vs. Mets, 8-6

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (July 20, 2021) – The Bradenton Marauders jumped out to a 6-0 lead and hung on for a 8-6 win in Tuesday’s series opener vs. the St. Lucie Mets at Clover Park.

The Marauders scored a quick pair of runs in the first inning, then pushed across four in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk, two run single by Hudson Head and a RBI single by Endy Rodriguez for a 6-0 lead.

The Mets went right to work in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jaylen Palmer led off with a long home run, his first of the year, to make it 6-1. Later in the inning Warren Saunders lifted a sac fly and Alex Ramirez ripped a RBI double to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Bradenton’s Jack Herman got a couple runs back with a two-run homer off of Justin Dillon in the seventh inning to make it 8-3.

The Mets scored three in the eighth to make it close. Saunders scored on a wild pitch from Wandi Montout and Matt O’Neill laced a two-run single to bring the score to 8-6. However, the rally was stopped by new reliever Alex Roth, who got a ground out on one pitch.

Bradenton closer Enmanuel Mejia struck out two in a scoreless ninth to convert his eighth save.

Luis Moreno (2-2) took a tough loss for the Mets. After giving up the two runs in the first inning, Moreno fired three straight scoreless innings.

Bradenton starter Nick Garcia (5-2) got the win by limiting the Mets to two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings.

Ramirez went 2 for 4 with two doubles in the loss.

O’Neill was 1 for 2 and reached base three times.

The Mets (35-32) and Marauders (42-24) play the second game of their series at Clover Park on Wednesday at 12:10 p.m.