Bradenton Bats Blast Way to Wednesday Night Win

BRADENTON, Fla. — A trio of five-run innings and a dominant pitching performance by Santiago Florez out of the bullpen helped the Marauders overcome an early seven-run deficit en route to an 18-11 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday night at LECOM Park.

Rehabbing Pirates right-hander Jose Soriano started the game for the Marauders (11-9) by giving up back-to-back singles. Soriano went on to allow three run-scoring hits and saw another run cross on a passed ball, and after retiring just two of 10 Palm Beach batters, the righty was lifted from the game with two outs and a seven-run deficit in the first inning.

Trailing 7-0 entering the bottom of the first, the Marauders worked three straight walks from Palm Beach (6-14) starter John Beller to load the bases. Endy Rodriguez delivered a sacrifice fly, Dariel Lopez swatted a three-run homer, and Jase Bowen reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch to bring Bradenton within two runs, 7-5.

Rodriguez, celebrating his 21st birthday, delivered an RBI-single in the second inning to bring the Marauders within one run, and Eli Wilson tied the score at 7-7 in third on an RBI-single. After Wilson’s game-tying hit, two walks loaded the bases, and with Reinys Portillo (0-1) entering in relief for the Cardinals, Maikol Escotto launched a grand slam—the team’s first since Cal Mitchell on July 21, 2019 at Tampa—to give the Marauders a 11-7 lead.

Palm Beach, however, immediately tied the score in the fourth. Loading the bases against reliever Cameron Junker on a single and two walks, the Cardinals then coaxed three bases-loaded walks and a hit-by-pitch from an erratic Oliver Mateo, re-tying the score, 11-11. Enmanuel Mejia (1-0) entered to pitch for the Marauders and, with two outs, induced an inning-ending flyout to keep the game tied.

But in the bottom half, the Marauders retook the lead permanently on an RBI-double to the left-field wall by Norkis Marcos, part of a three-hit night that matched his career high while celebrating his 20th birthday.

Bradenton added one run in the fifth on a Dariel Lopez RBI-groundout, and plated five more in the sixth, earning four walks and recording three singles to extend the lead to 18-11. Lopez and Escotto each collected five RBI in the game, and the Marauders went 7-for-20 with runners in scoring position.

In total, Marauders hitters drew a season-high 14 walks from Palm Beach pitchers and matched their season-high (set on May 9 against Fort Myers) with 18 runs scored. Eight of nine players in the starting lineup recorded a hit, while the only player without a hit, Sergio Campana, drew four walks, becoming the first Marauder to do so in one game since Alfredo Reyes on June 4, 2018 against the Florida Fire Frogs.

Meanwhile, Santiago Florez held the Cardinals scoreless and hitless over the final five innings, walking none while striking out seven, matching his own season-high.

The series continues Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at LECOM Park. RHP Eddy Yean (1-1, 11.74 ERA) will start for the Marauders against Palm Beach RHP Inohan Paniagua (2-0, 5.25 ERA).