Tarpons’ offense ignites to split series with Marauders

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Tarpons (11-16) exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third, powering past the Bradenton Marauders (16-11) at GMS Field, 10-7. Sunday’s contest went back and forth all game, with Tampa emerging victorious to split the series against Bradenton.

The Marauders greeted Tarpons’ starter RHP Baron Stuart (3.2IP, 9H, 7ER, 2BB) immediately with a pair of runs in the first. Stuart issued a four-pitch free pass to Jesus Castillo to begin the game, and Jared Triolo snuck a seeing-eye single between short and third base. With two on, Enmanuel Terrero ripped an RBI single up the middle into center field. Next up, Rodolfo Nolasco smoked a line drive double off the left field wall to plate another run. Stuart was able to retire the next three batters in a row, but the damage was done, and the Marauders took an early 2-0 lead.

Triolo and Nolasco teamed up to add another run for Bradenton in the top of the third. Stuart surrendered a leadoff double to Triolo to start off the frame. After Terrero popped up to left, Nolasco swung at the first pitch he saw and pushed it through the left side of the infield to score Triolo.

The Tarpons responded in a big way to take the lead in the home half of the third. LF Tayler Aguilar and C Jesus Rodriguez both found outfield grass for back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. Next up, 1B Ronny Rojas lifted a SAC-Fly to centerfield to plate Tampa’s first run of the game. 2B Brenny Escanio walked, and 3B Jared Serna cracked an RBI double down the first base line past the diving Alexander Mojica. The tying run scored off the bat of DH Agustin Ramirez, who popped a SAC-fly out to Terrero in center field. Tampa was not finished yet; CF Anthony Hall put the Tarpons in front with an RBI single to left. Bradenton gifted Tampa their next run as Triolo could not field SS Dayro Perez’ grounder cleanly at third. Finally, RF Nelson Medina added insult to injury by lining an RBI single the opposite way. When the dust settled, Tampa found themselves in control, 6-2.

Not for long though… the Marauders made it look like Stuart was throwing batting practice in the top of the fourth. With one man on and two out, Bradenton uncorked a four run two-out rally. Geovanny Planchart plated Nick Cimillo with a single up the middle and scored on a single by Jesus Castillo. Triolo’s busy day continued, his second double of the day tied the game at six apiece. Terrero stepped up to the plate next and grounded a single through the left side to put Bradenton on top, 7-6.

Fast forward to the home half of the sixth, Aguilar reached on a ball that bounced off the gloves of both Terrero and Shalin Polanco. Polanco was assigned the error and Aguilar made it all the way to third base. Rodriguez served the first pitch he saw from Darvin Garcia deep to left field for a ground rule double to even the score once more.

Tampa set the table in the seventh after Ramirez drew a walk and Hall singled to center. With the home team threatening, Yunior Thibo induced a double play from Perez to leave the Tarpons with just a man on third. To make things worse, Thibo got Medina to swing and miss on a ball in the dirt for strike three, but Planchart’s throw to first soared into right field to advance Ramirez home.

Serna added an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI triple that hit the wall and ricocheted back towards the infield. A wild pitch by Yoldin De La Paz blessed the Tarpons with an additional run as Serna charged home and scored to put Tampa ahead, 10-7.

Manager Rachel Balkovec turned to RHP Manny Ramirez in the ninth to close the door on Bradenton. Ramirez has been shaky early on this season and loaded the bases with just one out. The young righty zoned in and took care of business, recording his first save of the season.

The Tampa Tarpons hit the road and will travel to Fort Myers to take on the Mighty Mussels in a six-game set. As of now, RHP Leonardo Pestana is projected to make the start to open the road trip.