Marauders Roar to 11-5 Win Over Blue Jays

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DUNEDIN – The Marauders (53-44, 18-10) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first and never looked back while roaring to an 11-5 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays (60-39, 14-16) on Sunday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Every Bradenton starter scored at least one run and seven of the nine had at least one hit.

Bradenton took advantage of three hit batters in the first inning to score four runs against Frank Viola III (L, 1-2) The knuckle ball pitcher was tagged for three more runs in the third and another three spot in the fifth. Barrett Barnes reached all four times his faced Viola, collecting two singles, a double and a walk.

John Kuchno (W, 5-8) logged seven innings on the hill, surrendering just one earned run on four hits. Kuchno struck out five and walked three. He induced three ground ball double plays while only two of the 21 outs he recorded were hit in the air.

Ryan Hafner pitched the final two innings for Bradenton. Dwight Smith Jr. of the Blue Jays garnered his seventh home run of the season in the eighth.

Jordan Steranka went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, as well as two RBI. Walker Gourley drove in three and had a double as well.

The Marauders and Blue Jays meet at 11:00 a.m. on Monday morning for game two of the series. The game will be broadcast online at www.BradentonMarauders.com.

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