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photo by secondshotphoto.com |
BRADENTON -- The Marauders (13-21) scored at the beginning and end of Thursday’s game, emerging with a 4-3 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs (10-23) at McKechnie Field. The Marauders have played 15 one run games, going 6-9.
Charlotte starter Jesse Hawn had allowed only one run in 18 innings this season coming into the game, but the Marauders tagged him for three in the first inning. Alen Hanson and Benji Gonzalez hit consecutive singles to start the innings. Gregory Polanco brought home Hanson with a groundout, and Jose Osuna followed with a single to bring in Gonzalez. Osuna stole second and scored on the first of four Stone Crabs errors.
Matt Benedict started and pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs to leave with a 3-2 lead. The Stone Crabs knotted the score in the 7th against Joan Montero (W, 1-2). Drew Vettleson, who had two doubles and an RBI already on the night, singled in Kes Carter to tie the game 3-3.
Elias Diaz walked leading off the home half of the eighth. A sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch by Nate Garcia (L, 1-1) moved Diaz to third. He scored on a tight play at the plate on a shallow sacrifice fly to left by Dan Grovatt.
Emmanuel De Leon pitched a perfect ninth for his second save. He struck out Vettleson looking for the final out of the game.
The Marauders turned three double plays in the game, two on lineouts, to avoid big innings in spite of 13 hits for Charlotte. The Stone Crabs left 10 men on, while the Marauders stranded nine in the game.
Game two of the series is Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Robby Rowland is slated to pitch for Bradenton. Rowland is seeking his third win of the season and second in as many starts.