PORT CHJARLOTTE – The Marauders (1-1) blistered the Charlotte Stone Crabs (1-1) 9-1 on Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Bradenton pounded 18 hits and capitalized on five Charlotte errors. The 18 hits was more than the team managed in any 2013 game.
Bradenton opened the scoring on an unconventional first inning play. Jeff Roy singled to lead off the game and advanced to second on a ground out. Adam Frazier followed with an RBI-single, then scored himself as two throwing errors ensued on the play.
Charlotte’s committed five defensive errors in the game, including two more costly miscues as the Marauders piled on five runs in the third. Stone Crabs starter Reinaldo Lopez (L, 1-0) did not escape the third frame as the Marauders compiled six consecutive two-out hits. Bradenton added a run in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-0. After Charlotte managed a run against Harlan in the seventh, Bradenton answered with their final run in the eighth.
Jordan Steranka continued his torrid start to the season by going 4-for-5 with a double. Jose Osuna had three hits, including a double. Josh Bell went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. All told, 10 Marauders hit safely with five recording multi-hit games.
Chad Kuhl (W, 1-0) was brilliant in his debut performance with the Marauders. The University of Delaware product pitched two-hit shutout ball over five innings to earn the win. Kuhl whiffed two and did not walk a batter. Thomas Harlan, Bryton Trepagnier, and Jhondaniel Medina also pitched for Bradenton.
The Marauders face the Stone Crabs tomorrow in the team’s home opener at McKechnie Field. John Kuchnowill toe the rubber for Bradenton. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. There will be a postgame fireworks show presented by Budweiser and Bright House Networks.
Play-by-Play: http://bradenton.marauders.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_04_04_braafa_chaafa_1&t=g_log&sid=t3390