Tampa's Early Offense Too Much in 2-1 Defeat

BRADENTON, FL - In the second game of a four game series between the Bradenton Marauders and the Tampa Tarpons at LECOM Park, the road side pushed across a pair of early runs across against Bradenton starter RHP Cody Bolton to even the series up at a game apiece. The Marauders scored their only run of the contest in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a C Deon Stafford single to left field that scored 1B Lucas Tancas from second base after his second double of the night to extend his team-leading 2B total to 14. 

   Bolton lasted through six innings in a quality start, his fifth of the year, while matching his season high strikeout total with eight punchouts on the evening to take his third loss in a row and move his record to 5-3. RHP Samuel Reyes tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen in the seventh innings on a single hit while RHP Austin Coley allowed a single hit and fanned two Tarpons batters in his second scoreless outing coming off an offseason shoulder surgery. 

   Tampa plated their first tally in the top of the first inning on matching doubles as 1B Dermis Garcia drove in his leage leading 33rd run of the season before OF Isiah Gilliam drove in the second and final run for the road side in the third on a single to left, giving him his 20th RBI in 2019.  

   The Bradenton Marauders will transform into the Bradenton Barbanegras on Saturday night for the first of four Hispanic Heritage Celebrations as part of Minor League Baseball's Copa de la Diversion initiative. RHP Aaron Shortridge will take the hill for the home side with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 from LECOM Park. Catch all the action with Matt Neverett on the Bradenton Marauders Baseball Network by visiting BradentonMarauders.com, TuneIn Radio, MiLB.tv, or the MiLB First Pitch app!