TAMPA - The Bradenton Marauders (25-26) outlasted the Tampa Yankees (26-25) 9-6 in 12 innings in a game that started on Tuesday night and ended on Wednesday morning. The game began after a 112 minute rain delay and ended less than 10 hours before the two teams meet again on Wednesday morning.
Jin-De Jhang started the Marauders game-winning rally with a two-out single to center field off Stefan Lopez (L, 0-1). Jhang stole second and scored on D.J. Crumlich's RBI-single to left to give the Marauders a 7-6 lead, while Crumlich moved to second behind the throw home. Jeff Roy singled home Crumlich, moving to second himself on a throw to the plate, and then scored the final run of the night on Walker Gourley's base hit to left.
Ryan Hafner (W, 1-1) struck out five over three innings to earn the victory. He struck out Greg Bird and reigning Florida State League Player of the Week Dante Bichette Jr. for the final two outs in the 11th with the winning run at second.
Bradenton took an early 1-0 lead in the first. Taylor Lewis started a big day at the plate by reaching on a grounder off the glove of Bichette and scoring on Max Moroff's first double of game.
Jason Creasy had a long first inning, holding the Yankees to two runs while surrendering four hits. The Marauders struck back quickly to even the score 2-2 on an RBI-single by Lewis in the top of the second.
The Marauders chased Tampa starter Miguel Sulbaran with no outs in the fourth. Jhang singled home two runs with the bases full. Another run came across when Jeff Roy grounded into a double play for the first two outs of the inning, give Bradenton a 5-2 lead.
Creasy was chased in the bottom of the fifth. With the lead trimmed to 5-4 and men at the corners, Thomas Harlan came in and finished the inning with the lead intact. Harlan tossed two more scoreless innings and the Marauders added an insurance run to lead 6-4.
Tampa tagged Bryton Trepagnier for two runs in the eighth to tie the score 6-6, but Bird flew out with the go-ahead run at third.
Bradenton and Tampa face off at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning at Steinbrenner Field. Tyler Glasnow will start on the mound for the Marauders. The game can be heard online at www.BradentonMarauders.com.