Jupiter Takes Series, Top Spot From Bradenton
OF Mattison Nets Second Consecutive 3-Steal Game
It's always nice when you can come right back and score after giving up a run. The Hammerheads did one better Thursday night, hitting back with two runs each time the Marauders scored one, en route to a 7-3 win in the rubber game of the series.
Jupiter (5-2) used power and speed to answer any advances Bradenton (5-2) made on the scoreboard. Hammerheads starter Brad Hand (1-0) got off to a troublesome start, allowing a single and a double to start the game, then letting up the game's first run on a wild pitch. Going back to Wednesday night's game, it was Jupiter's third consecutive run allowed on a wild pitch or passed ball. But Hand battled back to retire the next three batters.
In the bottom of the inning, Jupiter's speedy center fielder Kevin Mattison did his thing. After a leadoff walk, Mattison stole his Florida State League-leading 7th base of the season. Another walk set up Mattison's 8th theft, on the front half of a double steal. First baseman Ben Lasater brought both runners home with a single to make it a 2-1 Jupiter lead. Lasater's previous at-bat against Bradenton came in the 10th inning of Wednesday night's game, a walk-off RBI single.
After Bradenton tied the game in the top of the 4th inning, Jupiter again answered back with speed on the basepaths. Third baseman Paul Gran's double put him in position to tie the game on a single by right fielder Isaac Galloway. Galloway advanced to second on a throwing error, then promptly stole third base as well. Robert Taylor, making his first start at catcher since rejoining the Hammerheads' roster, brought Galloway home on a single, extending a lead they would not give up.
Though Bradenton came into the series as the only undefeated team in FSL, they return home tied with Jupiter for the top spot in the South division and the league as a whole. The Hammerheads head to the west coast for a six-game trip, going first to visit Charlotte (4-2) and then facing the Marauders again, this time in Bradenton. They return to Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. for the first of a two-game set against the St. Lucie Mets.
Jupiter (5-2) used power and speed to answer any advances Bradenton (5-2) made on the scoreboard. Hammerheads starter Brad Hand (1-0) got off to a troublesome start, allowing a single and a double to start the game, then letting up the game's first run on a wild pitch. Going back to Wednesday night's game, it was Jupiter's third consecutive run allowed on a wild pitch or passed ball. But Hand battled back to retire the next three batters.
In the bottom of the inning, Jupiter's speedy center fielder Kevin Mattison did his thing. After a leadoff walk, Mattison stole his Florida State League-leading 7th base of the season. Another walk set up Mattison's 8th theft, on the front half of a double steal. First baseman Ben Lasater brought both runners home with a single to make it a 2-1 Jupiter lead. Lasater's previous at-bat against Bradenton came in the 10th inning of Wednesday night's game, a walk-off RBI single.
After Bradenton tied the game in the top of the 4th inning, Jupiter again answered back with speed on the basepaths. Third baseman Paul Gran's double put him in position to tie the game on a single by right fielder Isaac Galloway. Galloway advanced to second on a throwing error, then promptly stole third base as well. Robert Taylor, making his first start at catcher since rejoining the Hammerheads' roster, brought Galloway home on a single, extending a lead they would not give up.
Though Bradenton came into the series as the only undefeated team in FSL, they return home tied with Jupiter for the top spot in the South division and the league as a whole. The Hammerheads head to the west coast for a six-game trip, going first to visit Charlotte (4-2) and then facing the Marauders again, this time in Bradenton. They return to Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. for the first of a two-game set against the St. Lucie Mets.