DUNEDIN – The Marauders (11-21) were stifled at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium Tuesday night, falling 3-1 against the Dunedin Blue Jays (20-11). Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Aaron Sanchez (W, 2-1) pitched 5 and 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering only two hits to Bradenton while striking out six.
Willie Garcia photo by secondshotphoto.com |
Alen Hanson posed an early threat for the Marauders. He singled leading off the game and stole second with nobody out. Benji Gonzalez moved Hanson to third with a ground out, but Sanchez struck out Gregory Polanco and induced a ground out from Jose Osuna to end the threat.
The Blue Jays started quick on offense against Eliecer Navarro (L, 0-6). Andy Burns hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Peter Mooney tallied an RBI-single in the second to give Dunedin a 3-0 lead. Navarro struck out six batters over five innings.
Gonzalez got the Marauders on the board in the sixth with his first home run of the season, connecting off of Scott Gracey once Sanchez was lifted. The Marauders brought the tying run to the plate in each inning from the fifth through the ninth but left a runner on in each frame.
Nick Kingham will take the mound for the Marauders in the series finale on Wednesday night. He will be opposed by Scott Copeland for Dunedin. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. The game can be heard online at www.BradentonMarauders.com.