Chang Fires a Career-High Six Innings as Marauders Drop Close Contest
BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Marauders concluded the first half of the season with a 4-2 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Thursday night at LECOM Park. Both sides received strong starts from their starting pitchers with neither side scoring until the fifth inning. Sergio Campana reached base on
BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Marauders concluded the first half of the season with a 4-2 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Thursday night at LECOM Park.
Both sides received strong starts from their starting pitchers with neither side scoring until the fifth inning. Sergio Campana reached base on a fielding error to start the bottom half of the inning against Joe Adametz (4-0). Solomon Maguire then walked with both runners moving over on a sacrifice bunt by Wesley Zapata. With the infield in, Jeral Toledo grounded out to second base to score Campana and hand the Marauders a 1-0 lead.
Hung-Leng (2-5) had allowed just one hit through the first five innings before Kevin McGonigle doubled to start the sixth. After a flyout advanced him to third, Eduardo Valencia walked to place runners on the corners with one out. Jose De La Cruz singled to right field to tie the game at one. After another single by Patrick Lee loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly by Samuel Gil scored Valencia to give Lakeland a 2-1 advantage.
Chang allowed just the two runs and struck out four in a career-high six innings. Garrett McMillan entered out of the bullpen retired the first five batters of his outing until Valencia tallied a two-out double in the eighth. De La Cruz once again singled him in to stretch the Lakeland lead to 3-1. The run allowed by McMillan ended a 13.2 scoreless innings streak in Single-A.
Bradenton inched closer with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Jeral Toledo singled and Eddy Rodriguez walked to start the frame. After a fielders choice allowed Emmanuel Terrero to reach, Toledo scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to 3-2.
Lakeland plated one more in the ninth on passed ball before Eiker Huizi (SV,4) retired the Marauders in order in the ninth to close out the game.
The Flying Tigers entered the final day of the half trailing the Clearwater Threshers by half a game. Even though Lakeland won, the Threshers defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads 4-0 to win the Florida State League West Division First Half Championship. Friday marks the start of the second half.
The Marauders and Flying Tigers continue their six-game series on Friday night at LECOM Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:10 p.m. on the Marauders Broadcast Network. Bradenton sends RHP Khristian Curtis (2-3, 4.01) to the hill opposite of LHP Gabriel Reyes (0-0, 9.00) for Lakeland.