Marauders Beat Miracle 5-4

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BRADENTON – The Marauders (42-39, 7-5) got a dominant start from Orlando Castro (W, 6-4) and hung on late to defeat Fort Myers 5-4 on Tuesday night at McKechnie Field. Castro pitched six innings, facing one over the minimum while surrendering just a solo home run to Lance Ray in the top of the first inning.

Jordan Steranka smashed a three-run home run for the Marauders in the bottom of the first inning against B.J. Hermsen (L, 0-2). The bomb was Steranka’s sixth of the season in fourth in the last six games. It gave the Marauders a 3-1 lead that stood until the seventh.

The Miracle plated one run against Josh Smith in the top of the seventh, but stranded the tying run at second in the seventh and eighth. The Marauders rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead into the ninth.

Bryton Trepagnier (S, 8) allowed two runs and had the bases loaded and nobody out against him in the top of the ninth, but was able to induce a 5-2 force play for the first out of the inning, and then a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.

The second game of the series is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

The box score for Tuesday's game can be seen here; the Play-by-Play review can be viewed here.