Kennedy Fires Quality Start, Bradenton Walked-Off in 10th Inning

CLEARWATER, FL — For the second time this week, the Bradenton Marauders were walked-off 3-2 by the Clearwater Threshers in 10-innings on Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark.

Bradenton opened up the game’s scoring in the first with back-to-back doubles from Omar Alfonzo and Esmerlyn Valdez to give the Marauders a 1-0 edge.

After Michael Kennedy punched out five of the first six to begin the night, Bryson Ware doubled to begin the third. Ware was then thrown out at third base on a fielders choice for the first out in the inning. A groundout back to the mound moved Katowski to second to bring up Ricardo Rosario who singled to left field to score Katowski and tie the game at one.

The Marauders had a chance to answer back in the fourth after Valdez ripped a double down the left-field line to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt from Solomon Maguire moved Valdez to third to bring up Shalin Polanco. Polanco skied a baseball to right field that was caught by Rosario who came up throwing home and nabbed Valdez at the plate to end the frame and keep the game tied.

The score remained the same until extra-innings when the Marauders plated a run in the 10th. Alfonzo, the extra-runner, was pinch run for by Jeral Toledo. Maguire singled to right field against Trey Dillard (1-0) to advance Toledo to third with one out. Polanco again flied out to right field, this time allowing Toledo to score while handing the lead back to Bradenton at 2-1.

In the bottom half of the frame, pinch-hitter Trent Farquhar doubled off the wall in right field to score Ware and tie the game at two with nobody out. Jared Thomas hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Farquhar to third base before ultimately scoring on an AJ Shaver single against Garrett McMillan (0-2) to end the ballgame.

Saturday marked the 10th Marauders game decided by one-run, in which they own a 3-7 record. It was also the fifth extra-innings contest already of the season.

For the second straight start, Kennedy worked five innings on the hill while allowing just one run on four hits and striking out six. Hunter Furtado and Magdiel Cotto tossed two scoreless frames out of the bullpen as well.

The Marauders and Threshers wrap up their six-game series on Sunday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 11:40 a.m. on the Marauders Broadcast Network. Bradenton will send RHP Khristian Curtis (0-0, 7.20) to the mound, while the Threshers will turn to LHP Mavis Graves (1-1, 3.18).