Jupiter Hammerheads 9, Bradenton Marauders 2
(box score)
Jupiter got some revenge for last night’s blowout, though Bradenton out-hit the Hammerheads 14-13. Jupiter scored in each of the first 5 innings, and most of those runs came off starter Matt McSwain. A walk and two singled brought in the first run in the top of the 1st. A double, a bunt, and a fielding error by SS Benji Gonzalez added a run in the 2nd. Another fielding error by Gonzalez contributed to a 3-run 3rd inning, along with a single, a double, two walks, and a sacrifice fly. RF Robbie Grossman’s error in the 4th inning helped Jupiter score 2 runs. McSwain exited after 4 innings and 7 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks. He was relieved by Eliecer Navarro, who began his outing by giving up a single and a 2-run homer.
The Marauders put runners on base in 4 of the first 5 innings, but could not bring anyone around to score. They finally cracked the scoreboard in the 6th. With two outs, C Ramon Cabrera singled, 2B Adalberto Santos doubled, and 3B Kelson Brown lined a single into right. Cabrera scored, but Santos was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score from second base. They scored again in the 7th, on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by 1B Aaron Baker. Grossman and LF David Rubinstein had both singled and CF Evan Chambers walked to load the bases. The Marauders also put runners on in each of the last two innings, but again could not score. Three Marauders — Grossman, Cabrera, and Santos — had 3 hits each, and Brown had 2 hits. There were 11 runners left on base.
Jeff Inman pitched 3 scoreless innings for Bradenton, allowing 3 hits. Diego Moreno pitched the top of the 9th, and also allowed a hit, and struck out one batter.
Asheville Tourists 13, West Virginia Power 2
(box score)
Tonight was the Power’s turn to get pounded, while being held to just 3 hits. Two of those hits were by 1B Matt Curry. He drove in the first Power run in the bottom of the 1st, when CF Dan Grovatt was hit by a pitch, stole second, then scored on Curry’s single through the hole into right field. The next 14 Power batters went down in order, until the 6th inning, when SS Gift Ngoepe homered over the left field wall. (Ngoepe has had one home run in each of his two previous seasons in the Pirates’ organization.) Curry walked in the 7th inning, but was left on base. The Power threatened in the 9th, when they loaded the bases with one out, on walks by Grovatt and 3B Eric Avila and a single by Curry. But DH Elias Diaz bounced into a double play to end the game.
Brandon Cumpton allowed 7 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks in his 4 innings of work. The Tourists scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning, on a hit batter, a single, and three doubles. Cumpton gave up a solo homer to begin the 4th inning, then 2 walks and 2 singles added another 2 runs. Kevin Decker pitched the next 3 innings. He surrendered a 2-run homer in the 6th, then 2 runs in the 7th on a hit batter and 3 singles. Zach Foster took the last two innings, and he also gave up 2 runs in the 8th, on 3 doubles.
