ports Bats Come Back as Marauders Snap 3-game Losing Streak

Evan Chambers hits 6th-inning double in the season opener photo by Craig Jorgensen

BRADENTON – The Bradenton Marauders got off to a good start in winning their season opener at home last Thursday, but quickly fell into an 0-3 slump in which they scored only 4 total runs. The bats came back to life on Tuesday night when they put together 10 hits to down the Palm Beach Cardinals 6-2, behind a strong pitching performance from 2011 alum Hunter Strickland, who settled down after giving up two runs in the first inning before going on to pitch four shutout innings and then  turing the ball over to the bullpen who preserved the win.

Shortstop Drew Maggi went 3 for 5 with a run scored, to lead the offense. The Marauders pitching staff has looked good so far and with better run support could prove one of the more effective rotations in the FSL. Right-hander Jameson Taillon, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft, struck out 97 batters in 92 2/3 innings for low-A affiliate West Virginia last season, while holding batters to a .249 average. Despite limited play, Taillon was named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team.

Taillon joins another highly-touted prospect, Gerrit Cole, the number one overall pick in the 2011 draft, who was selected by the Pirates out of UCLA and signed a contract that included an $8 million signing bonus. The tandem give the Marauders the only 1st and 2nd overall pick duo in any minor league rotation, setting high expectations on the mound. Together with Hunter Strickland, A.J. Burnett and Colton Cain, the Marauders could once again have the strongest pitching squad in the league and remain a consistent source of on-the-mound talent development for the Pirate organization.