Marauders Beat Mets 8-6

PORT ST LUCIE, FL -- The Bradenton Marauders (20-28) extended their winning streak to three with an 8-6 win against the St. Lucie Mets (26-20) on Friday night at Tradition Field. Each team has won five games in the season series.

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Domingo Tapia (L, 2-4) imploded in the top of the first inning for the Mets. In his first start back off the disabled list, Tapia only retired on of eight batters he faced, walking four, hitting a batter, and surrendering two hits. Jacob Stallings had a two-RBI double with the bases loaded, Taylor Lewis had an RBI-single, and Dan Grovatt’s sacrifice fly against Estarlin Morel gave Bradenton a 6-0 lead.

The Marauders added their seventh run in the second inning, giving Nick Kingham (W, 6-2) more than enough run support. Kingham pitched six innings and allowed only one run while striking out three. Kingham walked a season high four batters.

The Mets made it interesting late, plating four runs in the eighth against Kurt Yacko before Zac Fuesser (Save, 1) was able to strike out Dustin Lawley in an 8-5 game. Lawley was representing the tying run. Fuesser pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Grovatt hit his second home run of the season in the fourth inning for the Marauders final run. Bradenton was outhit for a second straight game, but overcame it to win a third straight game for just the second time this season. The Mets stranded 11 runners, at least one in every inning.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Angel Cuan, who is 3-0 this season against the Marauders, will start for St. Lucie. Eliecer Navarro will start for Bradenton in search of his first win. The game will be broadcast on  www.BradentonMarauders.com.