Marauders Lose Third Straight Game in First of Series Against Hammerheads

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JUPITER – The Marauders (4-4) dropped the first game of a three game series 9-2 at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday night against the Jupiter Hammerheads. The loss is the third straight for Bradenton.

Bradenton opened the game with a two-run rally to take an early lead in the first. Raul Fortunato walked with one out against Jake Esch, then stole second. Fortunato went to third on Josh Bell’s ground out. An infield hit by Jose Osuna scored Fortunato, and a wild throw by Esch on the play allowed Osuna to advance to third. Osuna scored on the back end of a double steal after Max Moroff walked to put men on the corners.

John Kuchno (L 1-1) retired the side in order with two strikeouts in the first, but ran into trouble in the second inning. With two on and one out, Jupiter catcher Josh Adams lined a triple to right field to knot the score. A two-out rally in the third led to two more Jupiter runs and a 4-2 lead.

Jupiter put distance between themselves and Bradenton in the fourth. Kuchno was chased after three hits and two errors led to a 7-2 Jupiter lead. Kuchno struck out his final batter before being pulled. Tyler Waldron recorded the final out by way of a strikeout to strand the bases loaded. Waldron pitched three innings of scoreless relief.

Hammerheads reliever Frankie Reed (W, 1-0) pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win when Esch could not finish the fifth. Reed took over a bases loaded, two outs situation and needed just one pitch to induce Walker Gourley’s inning-ending fielder’s choice.

Josh Bell and Jose Osuna each had two hits for the Marauders. Bell has hit safely in all eight games this season, including four multi-hit games.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Orlando Castro will pitch for the Marauders. The game will be broadcast online at www.BradentonMarauders.com.

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