Bradenton Marauders 11, Jupiter Hammerheads 8
(box score)
There was a little hit-fest in Bradenton, but even though the Marauders were out-hit 13-12, they came out on top win the run column for the win. With Nate Baker on the mound for the Marauders, Jupiter got onto the scoreboard first, with 2 runs on 3 singles and a fielding error by RF Evan Chambers. Bradenton came right back in the bottom of the inning with 4 singles — C Chris Snyder, 1B Aaron Baker, 3B Elevys Gonzalez, and SS Benji Gonzalez — to score 3 runs. Jupiter tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the 3rd, on a walk, a double, and an RBI ground out. Bradenton answered again, this time with 4 runs. After 2B Jarek Cunningham doubled, Snyder drove him in with a single. Aaron Baker walked, and LF David Rubinstein made the score 7-3 with a 3-run homer. Jupiter returned fire again, with 2 runs on 2 singles, a double, and an RBI ground out, and after 4 innings, Bradenton led 7-5.
DH Calvin Anderson added a run in the bottom of the 6th, when he was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on Elevys Gonzalez’s double. Cunningham contributed another run in the 7th, when he led off the inning with a solo homer. Chambers followed the homer with a single, then moved to second base on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, then on to third with a stolen base. Snyder walked, and Aaron Baker brought Chambers in with a line drive single into right field. Anderson walked to load the bases. A grounder to first let Jupiter get a force play at the plate, but the bases were still loaded, so a walk to Benji Gonzalez pushed in the third run of the inning, and gave the Marauders an 11- 5 lead.
After Nate Baker’s 6 innings (5 runs on 9 hits, one walk, and 4 strikeouts), Jhonathan Ramos pitched one scoreless inning, allowing 2 hits. Jose Ascanio, on a rehab assignment, retired the side in order in the 8th, but gave up a walk and two doubles for 2 runs to begin the top of the 9th. He got two strikeouts, but threw a wild pitch on strike three of the second K, moving runners to the corners. A sacrifice fly brought in another run for Jupiter. Diego Moreno relieved Ascanio to get the final out of the game. Nate Baker earned the win, and Moreno earned a Save.
Ashville Tourists 3, West Virginia Power 1
(box score)
The Power did not do a lot of hitting, though the Tourists did. The Power put runners on base in all but two of their at-bats, but only scored in the 4th inning, when both 1B Matt Curry and DH Dan Grovatt doubled on line drives into left field. SS Drew Maggi and 3B Eric Avila also had singles, while RF Justin Howard doubled in both the 2nd and the 7th inning but couldn’t score.
Colton Cain got the start for the Power. He kept the Tourists from scoring in the first four innings, allowing a walk in the 2nd, then working out of jams after allowing a pair of singles in each of the 3rd and 4th innings. The Tourists tied the score in the top of the 5th, on a single, a bunt, and a stolen base, with a throwing error by C Elias Diaz on the stolen base that allowed the run to come in. Trent Stevenson finished the 5th for Cain then gave up a run in the 6th on a single, a ground-rule double, and a sacrifice fly. A fielding error by Maggi and a double gave Ashville an unearned insurance run in the 7th. Jason Townsend pitched the final two innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 4 batters.
