Marauders Plate Season-High 10 runs in Series Clinching Win

BRADENTON, FL — The Bradenton Marauders clinched their first series victory of the season after defeating the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 10-3 on Saturday night at LECOM Park in front of a crowd of 2,269.

Bradenton’s offense came out slugging early against Fort Myers starter Ty Langenberg (0-3). After a one-out walk to Eddy Rodriguez in the first, Shalin Polanco singled to bring up Esmerlyn Valdez who swatted a three-run home run to left field to push the Marauders ahead 3-0.

The Marauders’ pitching staff scoreless innings streak came to an end at 22.1 frames when the Mighty Mussels got a run back in the second inning. Rafael Cruz doubled to start the inning before Maddux Houghton singled him home two batters later to trim the deficit to 3-1.

That was all of the offense Fort Myers would generate against Michael Kennedy (1-1) who punched out eight in six innings on the hill. The eight strikeouts tied a career-high for the southpaw while the six innings were the most thrown by a Marauders starter this year.

Bradenton scratched across two more in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Jesus Castillo and a Rodriguez groundout to make it 5-1 Bradenton.

A sacrifice fly from Rodriguez in the fourth scored Justin Miknis to extend the Marauders advantage to 6-1. Bradenton completed their scoring with two runs each in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Rodriguez singled home Miknis before Castillo scored on wild pitch. Rodriguez finished the night 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored. Over the last two games, the 20-year-old is 5-for-6 with two doubles, six RBIs, two walks, and two runs scored.

After Miknis singled again in the seventh, Jerel Toledo blasted a triple in the alley in right-center field to score the Marauders first baseman. Rodriguez ended up driving home Toledo in with a single to pad the Bradenton lead at 10-1.

Rayne Doncon crushed a solo-home run in the eighth before a Byron Chourio single in the ninth completed the game’s scoring at 10-3.

Danny Carrion, who was just activated off the injured list on Saturday, tossed a scoreless frame in his season debut out of the bullpen.

The Marauders and Mighty Mussels wrap up their six-game series on Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park. 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 (0-2, 6.28) to the hill while Fort Myers has yet to name a starter.