Comeback Kids: Barbanegras Walk it Off

BRADENTON, Fla. — After losing hold on a two-run lead later Saturday night, the Marauders forged back in the ninth inning to defeat the Jupiter Hammerheads, 4-3, in walk-off fashion at LECOM Park.

Trailing, 3-2, entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Marauders (13-6, 42-42) got a leadoff solo homer to left field by Jase Bowen, tying the score at 3-3. Jupiter (9-10, 43-40) reliver Yeuris Jimenez rebounded to strike out Juan Jerez, but Wyatt Hendrie followed with an infield single. Randy Romero entered as a pinch-runner and scored the winning run on a line-drive double to right-center by Sergio Campana.

The win was the Marauders’ sixth walk-off of the season and placed Bradenton within one victory of a series win.

The Marauders had build a 2-0 lead after six innings. Norkis Marcos slugged a solo homer to left-center in the third inning, his first home run since August 2019, off major league rehabber Jesus Luzardo. In the sixth, Tsung-Che Cheng doubled and later scored on a wild pitch by Edgar Sanchez.

Luzardo would finish with just one run and two hits allowed over three innings, striking out three.

Marauders righty Po-Yu Chen pitched a season-high six scoreless innings, scattering five hits and fanning five. Chen stranded six Jupiter baserunners in his outing, five of which were left in scoring position.

But after a scoreless seventh inning by Mitchell Miller, Jack Hartman struggled in the eighth inning for Bradenton, loading the bases with none out on a hit-by-pitch and two walks. Yunior Thibo entered in relief and forced home a run with a walk to Federico Polanco, then saw Cristhian Rodriguez drive home a run with a groundout. Another walk reloaded the bases, and Jose Estrada drew Jupiter’s fifth free pass of the inning, pushing home the go-ahead run. Thibo recovered to get a grounder that resulted in a force out at home, then struck out Javier Sanoja to keep the Marauders within one run, 3-2.

Wilkin Ramos pitched a perfect ninth for the Marauders with two strikeouts and a groundout, setting up the team’s late comeback.

The series concludes Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at LECOM Park. The doubleheader will consist of two seven-inning games.

For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call (941) 747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com, or email [email protected].

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