KISSIMMEE, FLA.: Andy Wilkins delivered the winning runs in both games and phenomenal pitching efforts across the board ruled the day for the Florida Fire Frogs, who took two from the Bradenton Marauders, 6-0 and 2-1, to open up a five-game series on a high note on Tuesday evening at
KISSIMMEE, FLA.: Andy Wilkins delivered the winning runs in both games and phenomenal pitching efforts across the board ruled the day for the Florida Fire Frogs, who took two from the Bradenton Marauders, 6-0 and 2-1, to open up a five-game series on a high note on Tuesday evening at Osceola County Stadium.
Game 1: RHP Brooks Wilson nearly went the distance for the first time in his career. He dominated over 6 and 1/3's innings, permitting just six hits and a walk while tying his career-high nine-strikeout total which was previously achieved versus Bradenton on July 4. Wilson (4-2) won his second straight start, tossing a career-high 109 pitches and 73 strikes to do so.
RHP Sean McLaughlin entered in the seventh and retired two of three Marauders to finish off the game, side-stepping a hit in the process.
Riley Delgado singled in front of Wilkins in the first. He then provided some early run support with his first homer as a Fire Frog, slamming a two-run shot 406 feet over the fence in right for a 2-0 advantage.
Florida began the fourth inning with four straight hits against RHP Gavin Wallace. Jefrey Ramos and Drew Lugbauer notched singles. Logan Brown swatted a two-bagger to send both home. Kevin Josephina then hit a ground-rule double to plate Brown. Josephina would advance to third on a groundout and score on a wild pickoff attempt from Bradenton catcher Raul Hernandez to round out the four-run frame, 6-0.
Brown swatted 2x3 at the dish and now has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 assignments. Lugbauer picked up his 18th multi-hit effort, placing two singles in his three at-bats.
Wallace (4-7) completed the second game of his career, surrendering nine hits and five earned runs with six strikeouts mixed in across six innings while absorbing the loss.
Daniel Amaral and Travis Swaggerty each had two hits at the top of the Marauders lineup. Amaral reached three times.
Game 2 Box Score: https://www.milb.com/gameday/marauders-vs-fire-frogs/2019/08/13/572392#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=572392
Game 2: Pitching ruled the day once again in game two as the teams went into extra innings scoreless.
RHP Matt Withrow tossed an impressive 2 and 2/3's stanzas in his start, scattering three hits and a walk while racking up a season-best six punch outs. RHP Lukas Young entered for him in the third and proceeded to retire nine of the ten Marauders he opposed, striking a batter and fanning three.
Starter RHP Samuel Reyes was solid for Bradenton on the other side. He gave up four hits and struck out five across five scoreless frames, throwing at least five innings for the fourth time in his career. LHP Joe Jacques relieved Reyes and mowed down six straight Fire Frogs to send the game to extras.
With RHP Caleb Dirks pitching and Amaral the placed runner at second, Swaggerty smoked a ground ball single past Lugbauer at first to score the first tally of the contest, 1-0.
Dirks (2-0) minimized the damage in the eighth to earn the win, catching Swaggerty trying to steal and getting the next two Marauders to end the threat. He worked around three hits and an unearned run while adding three strikeouts across 2 and 1/3's stanzas.
Garrison Schwartz was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth. Jordan Rodgers began the rally with a single. Brett Langhorne then walked to load the sacks. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat against Jacques, Delgado hit a bloop single over the drawn-in infield to tie the game at 1. Wilkins ended it by directing a ball down the first-base line to bring in Rodgers and send the crowd home happy.
Jacques (3-3) took the loss, giving up three hits and two runs in two-plus innings.
Delgado went 3x4 in game two and was 4x7 at the plate during Tuesday's twin bill. Wilkins finished the day with three RBIs. Ramos had hits in both contests.
Six different Marauders had hits in game two. Lolo Sanchez in the nine-hole was the only Bradenton batter to climb aboard multiple times, walking once and notching a base hit.
The Fire Frogs picked up their sixth walk-off victory of the season while at the same time handing the Marauders their first extra-innings loss (7-1) of 2019.
NEXT UP: The Monday rainout forced the Marauders and Fire Frogs to play back-to-back double headers. Wednesday's twin bill begins at 4 p.m. with RHP Odalvi Javier (0-1, 6.00) making his second Advanced-A start opposite RHP Aaron Shortridge (7-4, 3.26). Florida's game two starter will be determined tomorrow. LHP Ike Schlabach (3-1, 2.61) will take the hill for Bradenton.
Fans who come to the park can enjoy $3 shots or $5 mixed drinks featuring Fireball, Redneck Riviera, or Rebel Yell.
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About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
