Fort Myers Miracle 9, Bradenton Marauders 6
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The Marauders also scored in each of their first four innings, but 5 runs in the 6th and 3 runs in the 8th let the Miracle come from behind for the win. Jose Ascanio made the start for the Marauders, and like two days ago, he pitched only one inning. He gave up a run on a triple and a sacrifice fly, and struck out one batter. The Marauders tied the score in the bottom of the frame, with singles by RF Robbie Grossman and CF Evan Chambers, and an RBI double by DH Calvin Anderson.
Bradenton added 2 runs in the 2nd inning. 3B Elevys Gonzalez began the rally with a walk, then back-to-back singles by SS Benji Gonzalez and Grossman, plus a throwing error, drove in both Gonzalezes to give the Marauders a 3-1 lead. Anderson was hit by a pitch and C Ramon Cabrera singled in the 3rd inning. Both advanced one base on a balk, then Anderson scored on a sacrifice fly. In the 4th, Grossman doubled, for his third hit in 3 at-bats, then scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error by the Miracle catcher, and the Marauders were up 5-1.
Nate Baker took the mound for the Marauders to begin the 2nd inning. He pitched 4 scoreless innings, though he had to work around runners on base in each of the four. But Baker got into trouble in the 6th, giving up 5 runs. With one out, a double and a 2-run homer made the score 5-3. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, then two more singles drove in a run each, tying the score. With the bases still loaded, Baker was relieved by Eliecer Navarro. Navarro gave up a sacrifice fly to give the Miracle the 6-5 lead, with all 5 runs in the inning charged to Baker.
The Marauders had threatened in the bottom of the 5th, with a single by Anderson and a walk by David Rubinstein, and another single by Elevys Gonzalez. Anderson came around and tried to score from second base, but was tagged out at the plate. They did score in the 7th, tying the score again. 1B Aaron Baker led off with a single, then walks by Anderson and Rubinstein loaded the bases. A passed ball let Aaron Baker score from third base, and the score was 6-6.
Navarro came back out to begin the 8th inning, giving up a single and a sacrifice bunt. He was relieved by Jhonathan Ramos, who was greeted by a single and a 3-run homer, for a score of 9-6. Gabriel Alvarado pitched the top of the 9th, erasing a fielding error with a double play. The Marauders put two runners on base in the bottom of the 8th — a walk by Chambers and a single by Aaron Baker — but they could not get around to score. They went down in order in the bottom of the 9th. Navarro was charged with the loss. Grossman had 3 hits (double and two singles), and Aaron Baker and Anderson had 2 hits each.
