LAKELAND, Fla. (Bradenton Marauders) — The Marauders rode two home runs and a quality start from Adrian Florencio to a 6-1 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Wednesday night at Publix Field.
Dariel Lopez opened the evening’s scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning for the Marauders (71-44), and the Marauders would not squander the lead.
Florencio (6-4) turned in his team-leading fifth quality start of the season, holding Lakeland (51-63) to just one run on four hits, all singles, across six innings. The right-hander faced multiple baserunners over his six innings, but induced double-play grounders in the first and fourth innings, then got Alvaro Gonzalez to line into a double play in the fifth, erasing a leadoff single by Chris Meyers that represented the potential tying run for Lakeland.
The Flying Tigers’ only run of the game came in the fourth inning, as Ben Malgeri walked, took second base on a Florencio balk, and scored on a Josh Crouch single to cut Bradenton’s lead to 2-1. But Crouch was left stranded on second base after a dropped popup in shallow center by Sammy Siani led to an inning-ending double play.
Left-hander Matt Walker (4-1) pitched well for Lakeland but took the loss, striking out six and limiting the Marauders to two runs over six innings but receiving little run support.
In the seventh, Maikol Escotto doubled to left field, took third base on a groundout, and scored on a balk by Flying Tigers reliever Williander Moreno to stretch the Marauders’ lead to 3-1.
Justin Meis provided two perfect innings of relief behind Florencio, and after walks in the top of the ninth by Ernny Ordonez and Sammy Siani, Endy Rodriguez capped the evening’s scoring with a long three-run homer to right field off Aaron Haase, giving the Marauders a 6-1 lead entering the ninth.
Wandi Montout pitched the ninth for Bradenton, allowing a leadoff single before a double-play grounder—Bradenton’s fourth double play of the game—and a groundout to third sealed the victory.
The game lasted just two hours and 27 minutes, the fastest nine-inning game for the Marauders this season.
The series continues Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Publix Field. RHP Luis Ortiz will start for the Marauders against LHP Carlos Pena for the Flying Tigers.