Marauders Leave Yankees Scoreless a Second Straight Time

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BRADENTON – The Marauders (27-26) dealt the Tampa Yankees (26-27) a second straight shutout loss, winning the third game of the series 4-0 on Thursday night at McKechnie Field. Chad Kuhl (W, 5-4) and Jhondaniel Medina (S, 3) teamed on a six-hit whitewash of the New York Yankees’ high-A affiliate.

Kuhl tossed six scoreless innings, surrendering four hits, one walk, and two hit batters while striking out three. Tampa mounted its best threat in the third inning. With the game still scoreless, Jake Cave singled to center field with one away to start the potential rally. Cito Culver followed with a near home run that hit high off the wall for a double, sending Cave to third. Kuhl went to a full count on Greg Bird, eventually striking out the Tampa three-hole hitter with a high fastball before inducing an inning-ending ground out to second by Dante Bichette Jr.

The Marauders got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Walker Gourley singled with one out. After Josh Bell flew out, Gourley stole second base despite Tampa starter Chaz Hebert throwing to first instead of the plate. Jonathan Schwind extended his hitting streak to nine games with an RBI double down the left field line to give Bradenton a 1-0 lead.

Bradenton plated three runs in the seventh to establish the final margin. Schwind started the rally with a double to left center, scoring two batters later on a close play at the plate when Culver threw home on Jin-De Jhang’s ground ball to short. Two unearned runs scored against Yankees reliever Alex Smith on Raul Fortunato’s two-RBI infield single later in the inning.

Medina faced one over the minimum while collecting a nine-out save. Medina struck out one and allowed just two ninth inning singles to complete Bradenton’s seventh shutout of the season.

The game was played after a 46 minute rain delay.

The series concludes on Friday at McKechnie Field with Marauders righty John Kuchno facing Tampa southpaw Dan Camarena. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

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