Marauders Salvage Series Split Behind Sterling’s Nine Strikeouts
Palmer scratches across two hits, Tate picks up two RBIs in the eighth
The Bradenton Marauders (9-12) salvaged a series split with the Clearwater Threshers (11-10) during a 6-3 win on Sunday from BayCare Ballpark. Levi Sterling notched a career-high nine strikeouts, while Dylan Palmer recorded two hits that included a triple.
The Marauders began the scoring in the top of the first off Threshers starter Gage Wood. Palmer tripled and scored on a groundout to make it a 1-0 ballgame.
In the top of the third, Bradenton plated three runs against Clearwater reliever Peyton Havard. Samuel Escudero walked, while Antonio Pimentel and Palmer collected back-to-back singles to load the bases. A base hit by Edward Florentino scored Escudero and Pimentel to make it 3-0. With Palmer at third, Richard Ramirez grounded into a double play to plate Palmer and increase the lead, 4-0.
Alirio Ferrebus smashed a three-run homer off Sterling in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 4-3.
In the top of the eighth, the Marauders earned a couple of insurance runs off Threshers reliever Tyler Bowen. Florentino and Jared Triolo worked back-to-back walks, while Ramirez singled to load the bases. Josh Tate parked a single to center, scoring Florentino and Triolo to make it a 6-3 ballgame.
Bradenton reliever Draven Zeigler closed it down in the ninth to finalize a 6-3 win for the Marauders.
Sterling (1-1) takes the win, letting up three runs (zero earned) on three hits, nine strikeouts, and a homer over 5.0 innings. Wood (0-2) collected the loss, allowing a run on a hit, a walk, and two strikeouts over 2.0 frames. Zeigler (4) notched the save with a strikeout in a perfect ninth inning.
The Marauders take Monday off before beginning a six-game home series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Tuesday from LECOM Park. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. EST.
For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call 941-747-3031, visit www.BradentonMarauders.com, or email MaraudersInfo@pirates.com.