Marauders and Cardinals Split Doubleheader

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BRADENTON – The Marauders (20-28) and the Palm Beach Cardinals (27-22) split a doubleheader on Tuesday night at McKechnie Field. Bradenton won the nightcap 4-0 after falling 4-1 in the opener. The win in the second game was the Marauders’ second shutout of the season.

Joan Montero (W, 3-5) pitched five scoreless innings in the second game in a spot start. He fanned two and did not walk a batter while surrendering just a pair of singles. Zac Fuesser tossed two scoreless innings to finish the night, whiffing three Cardinals along the way.

Willy Garcia was the offensive catalyst in Bradenton’s win. He went 3-for-3 with two singles, a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. He drove in the first run with a single in the first inning.

In the fourth he tripled and scored on a single from Dan Gamache. Jacob Stallings tripled to score a run, then scored the final run when Ashley Ponce singled to chase Tyler Melling (L, 3-4).

Adrian Sampson (L, 4-7) pitched into the seventh for Bradenton in game one, but was outdueled by Joe Cuda (W, 3-0). Cuda whiffed seven while holding the Marauders off the board for six innings.

Bradenton managed just an unearned run in the seventh against Ronnie Shaban. Gift Ngoepe was 2-for-3 with a double in that game, while Elias Diaz was 2-for-2 with the lone RBI.

The teams face off again Wednesday at McKechnie Field. Bradenton sends Pat Ludwig to the mound, while the Cardinals counter with Kurt Heyer. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.