Fort Myers Miracle 5, Bradenton Marauders 3
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The Marauders put runners on base in all but two innings, but with 10 hits, they left 10 runners on base in the loss. DH Calvin Anderson started the Marauders’ scoring with a solo home run to lead off the 3rd inning. RF Robbie Grossman followed the homer with a single up the middle, then stole second base, and scored on C Ramon Cabrera’s RBI double for the second run of the inning. CF Evan Chambers also homered in the 4th, but that was the end of the Marauders’ scoring. They put two runners on base in the 6th, when Cabrera walked and 3B Elevys Gonzalez singled, but could not get them around to score. Anderson doubled and SS Benji Gonzalez singled, moving Anderson to third in the 7th, but two strikeouts and a ground out ended that threat. 1B Aaron Baker singled and Chambers reached on a fielder’s choice in the 8th, with the same result. The same for Benji Gonzalez when he reached on an error in the 9th, and Grossman walked.
Nate Baker made the start for the Marauders, but did not get out of the 2nd inning. The Miracle scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 1st. Two singles and a fielding error loaded the bases with one out. A walk and a hit batter each forced in a run, then an RBI single added the third run, as the Miracle batted around. The 2nd inning began with a walk, and a grounder force out, leaving a runner at first. At that point, Eliecer Navarro relieved Nate Baker. A stolen base and a ground-rule double brought in one run, charged to Baker. Navarro gave up a solo home run in the 3rd, and after Chambers’ homer, the Miracle still held a 5-3 lead. Navarro pitched two more scoreless innings, allowing only 2 hits. Zach Foster pitched three scoreless innings to finish the game for the Marauders, allowing only a walk in the 8th, and that runner was caught stealing.
