Valdez Ties Franchise Record as Game Halted Due to Weather
DAYTONA BEACH, FL —Game one of a doubleheader on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark between the Bradenton Marauders and Daytona Tortugas was suspended in the bottom of the fourth with the Marauders ahead 6-2. After an hour and 43-minute rain delay, the Marauders took the early lead in the
DAYTONA BEACH, FL —Game one of a doubleheader on Friday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark between the Bradenton Marauders and Daytona Tortugas was suspended in the bottom of the fourth with the Marauders ahead 6-2.
After an hour and 43-minute rain delay, the Marauders took the early lead in the top of the first against Juan Martinez after Esmerlyn Valdez blasted a solo-home run, his 22nd of the season to push the Marauders ahead 1-0. The 22 home runs are now tied for the most in a single season in franchise history with Dylan Busby (2019).
BANG! Esmerlyn Valdez ties the franchise-record with his 22nd HR of the season! pic.twitter.com/nxKlRQaF0d
— Bradenton Marauders (@The_Marauders) September 6, 2024
The Tortugas retaliated in the bottom of the frame against Antwone Kelly. Three of the first four reached safely with Yerlin Confidan leading off with a walk and Sammy Stafura hitting an infield single. After Ariel Almonte walked to load the bases, Jack Moss hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at one.
Both starters tossed a scoreless second before the Marauders offense erupted for a five-run third. After Martinez retired the first batter, the next three men reached. Braylon Bishop singled and Will Taylor walked with both men scoring on a two-RBI triple from Shalin Polanco to give the lead back to Bradenton at 3-1. After Valdez plated Polanco on a sacrifice fly, Jhonny Severino blasted his third home run of the week to make it 5-1 Marauders. The following batter, Axiel Plaz, doubled and scored on a Yordany De Los Santos single to cap off the inning.
Daytona cut into the deficit with a run in the third on an Esmith Pineda sacrifice fly to trim the Bradenton lead to 6-2.
Before the bottom of the fourth began, the game entered another rain delay at 7:57 pm with the game being suspended around 9:40 pm. The game will be resumed tomorrow at 5:00 pm with a seven-inning contest to follow. Game two of the doubleheader has been canceled.