Marauders Silence Joe Mauer and Ft Myers Miracle, 7-3

FORT MYERS – The Bradenton Marauders, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, used an early outburst to beat the Fort Myers Miracle 7-3 at Hammond Stadium.

Marauders' OF Robbie Grossman photo by Craig Jorgensen

Bradenton rocked from the get-go with four hits in the first inning.  Bradenton got a run when Ramon Cabrera singled in Robbie Grossman, who had doubled to lead off.  That was all the Marauders would get, however, leaving the bases loaded.

In the second inning Jarek Cunningham boomed his 12th homerun of the season, a stripe down the leftfield line.  The shot scored Kelson Brown, who had reached on an error, for a 3-0 lead.  The Miracle would score two unearned runs in the third inning to pull within a run, but Bradenton touched home again in the fourth for a 4-2 lead.  Elevys Gonzalez hit a bloop single to center to score Cunningham, who had doubled to lead off the fifth.

Extra cushion came along in the eighth and ninth innings with two and one run respectively.  Relievers Dakota Watts and Shooter Hunt walked a combined four batters, including two by Watts with the bases loaded, to encourage the threat.  Evan Chambers scored in the ninth after walking.  He came in on a suicide squeeze.  It was the second successful squeeze by Bradenton in two games.

On the mound Bradenton only needed two pitchers.  Phillip Irwin threw five and two thirds innings of three-run ball.  Only one of those allowed was earned, so Irwin’s ERA fell to 2.02, second best in the Florida State League.  Irwin earned the win, his fifth.  The loss was charged to Fort Myers’ Edgar Ibarra, his fifth.

Major League rehabber Joe Mauer played the first seven innings for Fort Myers and went 1-4 with a double.  He grounded out in his other at-bats.

The Marauders and Miracle continue Monday night at Hammond stadium.  First pitch is set for 7:05 with radio coverage at 6:50 on 1280-AM WTMY.  The Marauders return home Wednesday night to play the charlotte Stone Crabs at 7:00pm.  Ticketing information is online at BradentonMarauders.com.