Bradenton Strikes Late as Tampa Loses 5th-Straight

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Marauders tallied a run in five separate innings and scored the final three runs of the game to come back and defeat the Yankees, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park.
Bradenton (11-6, 48-36) has edged Tampa (8-8, 47-39) by one run in each of the first three games of the series. The T-Yanks are now on a five-game losing streak, having not won since the 2-1, 14-inning walk-off victory over the Fort Myers Miracle on the 4^th of July.
The first three Marauder hitters worked full counts against LHP Ian Clarkin in the first. Cole Tucker lined a leadoff single and Ke'Bryan Hayes walked to begin the frame. Tucker stole third and scored when Will Craig rolled into a 5-4-3 double play. Clarkin struck out Jordan George to end the inning.
Tampa jumped ahead in the second against RHP Mitch Keller when Alexander Palma walked and scored on a two-run blast off the batter's eye by Austin Aune . The home run was the second of the season by Aune and his first since April 26^th vs. Clearwater.
Clarkin tossed a perfect second before surrendering another run in the third. John Bormann reached on a throwing error by third baseman Gosuke Katoh and advanced on Tucker's second single of the game before scoring on a two-out base hit by Will Craig, knotting the contest at 2-2.
The Yankees regained the lead in the fifth with the help of a misplay in the outfield. Keith Skinner and Jeff Hendrix drew back-to-back, one-out walks and both scored when a single by Katoh rolled by Hughston in centerfield. Katoh rounded third and tried for the Little League homer, but a relay throw by second-baseman Mitchell Tolman was good enough to nab Katoh at the plate.
Keller made a quality start for Bradenton, yielding four runs (three earned) on four hits in six innings. The right-hander allowed a season-high four walks while striking out three and throwing 54 of 89 pitches for strikes.
After tossing anther 1-2-3 frame in the fourth, Clarkin allowed the Marauders to cut into the lead in the fifth. Hughston lined a first-pitch single into center, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third via stolen base. One out later, Tucker pulled his third single of the afternoon into left field, driving home Hughston.
Clarkin allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings. The southpaw walked one, struck out one and threw 51 of 90 pitches for strikes in a no-decision.
Bradenton scored twice against LHP Caleb Frare (BS, 1)(L, 0-2) to regain the lead. George tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth. Kevin Krause doubled and scored on a go-ahead single by Bormann in the seventh.
LHP Daniel Zamora (W, 1-1) tallied four strikeouts in a pair of scoreless relief innings, stranding a single by Katoh and a walk by Trey Amburgey in the eighth. RHP Seth McGarry (SV, 9) retired the side in order in the ninth to remain perfect in save opportunities.
RHP Raynel Espinal worked a scoreless ninth for Tampa. Katoh (2-for-4, RBI) had the lone multi-hit game. Amburgey (0-for-2, 2BB) snapped his six-game hitting streak. Hendrix (1-for-3, BB, R) also reached base twice.
The series wraps up on Monday when RHP Bryan Mitchell (0-0, -.-- ERA) makes a spot-start for Tampa against Bradenton LHP Cam Vieaux (2-0, 0.75 ERA) at 6:30 p.m. Live audio will be available on the Tampa Yankees Radio Network beginning at 6:20 p.m.