Marauders top Miracle 6-5 in 11
BRADENTON – JaCoby Jones delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning Sunday afternoon to guide the Bradenton Marauders to a 6-5 win over the Fort Myers Miracle.
Trailing 5-4 going into the ninth inning, the Miracle tied the game on Chad Christensen’s pinch-hit RBI. Mitch Garver led off the inning against Marauders reliever Frank Duncan with a walk and was replaced by Engelb Vielma at first base. Bryan Haar was struck by a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs. Duncan induced a 3-6-3 double play of Ryan Walker to pick up the first two outs of the inning as Vielma cruised to third base. Christensen stepped in and tapped a weak ground ball to the shortstop. Jones charged, gloved and threw to first, but Christensen reached the bag before the toss and Vielma scored to tie it 5-5.
Miracle reliever Todd Van Steensel entered and retired the side in the ninth to force extra innings for a 17th time this season. The Miracle have now tied the team record for the most extra-inning games in a single season, matched in both 1996 and 2002.
Van Steensel also tossed a scoreless 10th and Marauders reliever Montana DeRapau was perfect in the 10th and 11th setting the stage for Jones. Miracle reliever Luke Westphal took over from the bullpen and retired the Chris Diaz on a grounder to short, but Justin Maffei reached on a single up the middle. Harold Ramiez then bounced a chopper through the infield to put runners at first and second. Jones hit a one-hop line drive that skipped over Walker’s glove at second base and into right field. Maffei raced around to score and give the Marauders the walk-off win.
DeRapau (1-0) earned the victory out of the Bradenton bullpen. Westphal (2-3) took the loss.
The Miracle (31-32) return to Hammond Stadium Monday to open a four-game series with the Daytona Tortugas.