Bradenton Marauders 5, Brevard County Manatees 2
[box]
Rehabbing pitcher Donnie Veal made the start for the Marauders tonight. He pitched two innings, retiring the side in order in the 1st, and then giving up a run in the 2nd. With one out, a single, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice bunt put a Manatees’ runner on third base, then an RBI single gave the Manatees the first run of the game. Veal also allowed a double, to put two more runners into scoring position, but struck out the next batter to end the threat.
The Marauders answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. 1B Aaron Baker led off with a single into right field, and 3B Elevys Gonzalez bounced a ground-rule double over the right field wall. Baker scored on on LF David Rubinstein’s RBI ground out, and a double to left by DH Calvin Anderson brought in Gonzalez. They added a run in the 3rd on three singles, but 2B Jarek Cunningham, Baker, and Gonzalez. Anderson led off the bottom of the 4th with a walk, and a double by RF Robbie Grossman and a single by C Ramon Cabrera gave the Marauders 2 more runs.
After Veal pitched his two innings, he was relieved by Zach Foster, who pitched a scoreless 3rd inning. Foster allowed only a walk. Nate Baker made an unusual relief appearance, pitching the remaining 6 innings of the game to earn the win. Nate Baker scattered 4 hits and a walk over his 6 innings, which included 5 strikeouts. The only run Nate Baker allowed came in the 6th inning, on a single, a ground out to move the runner into scoring position, and an RBI single.
Marauders Notes: Five Marauders’ players were named to the Florida State League’s mid-season All-Star Team:
Inf Jarek Cunningham, who is at or near the top of the FSL in extra base hits (31), homers (11), doubles (15), and triples (5);
C Ramon Cabrera, who is hitting .366 with 7 RBI;
1B Aaron Baker, who is hitting .270 with 9 doubles, 7 homers, and 39 RBI;
RHP Kyle McPherson, who pitched a one-ht complete game this week, and leads the FSL in innings pitchd (67.2) and in WHIP (0.95);
RHP Brett Lorin, who has a 2-2 record and one save, with 45 strikeouts in 44.1 innings of work.
Lexington Legends 3, West Virginia Power 1
[box]
The only Power run of the game was posted by the first batter of the game: SS Drew Maggi opened the game with a solo home run over the left field wall, and the Power did not score again. RF Dan Grovatt walked and 1B Justin Howard singled in the 1st inning, but a double play ended the rally. 3B Eric Avila and CF Mel Rojas both singled in the 3rd — Avila was out in a double play, and Rojas was picked off base. The Power put runners on base in four more innings, but their only other serious threat came in the 7th. Howard led off that inning with a walk, but was out at second in a force play. A throwing error on that play let C Elias Diaz reach base safely and advance to second, then LF Rogelios Noris was hit by a pitch. 2B Kevin Mort lined a single into right field, and Diaz tried to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate.
Tyler Waldron pitched 6 innings for the Power, allowing one run on 5 hits and a walk, with 4 strikeouts. He worked around a single in the 1st and a fielding error by Maggi in the 2nd, then retired the side in order in the 3rd and 4th innings. A single and a wild pitch on strike three put runners on the corners for Lexington in the 5th, but Waldron got out of that inning with a ground out. The only run Waldron allowed came on a solo home run in the 6th. Following the homer, Waldron gave up a double and a single. A fielder’s choice grounder to first let 1B Howard return the ball to C Diaz, who tagged out the lead runner at the plate, and a strikeout ended the inning.
The score was tied 1-1 when Waldron exited the game. Porfirio Lopez relieved Waldron and pitched a scoreless 7th inning, but gave up a walk and a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th to give the lead to Lexington. But the Power could not answer, and the win went to Lexington.
