Nolasco’s Blast Lifts Marauders over Flying Tigers

June 5, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Bradenton Marauders News Release

LAKELAND, Fla. – After being held hitless into the eighth inning, the Marauders got a go-ahead three-run homer from Rodolfo Nolasco to spark a come-from-behind, 4-3 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers Sunday afternoon at Publix Field.

The victory marked the first time this season that the Marauders (23-28) won a game in which they trailed after seven innings, previously going 0-27 in such games. The win also salvaged a series split for the team.

With one out in the top of the eighth inning and Lakeland (24-27) leading, 3-1, Luke Brown drew a walk from Flying Tigers reliever Cristhian Tortosa (1-2). Mike Jarvis followed with a bloop single to shallow right field that narrowly evaded the sliding reach of second baseman Frank Veliz. The hit was the Marauders’ first of the game, breaking up a combined no-hit bid by four Flying Tigers pitchers to that point. After a slow fielder’s choice grounder back to the mound by Deivis Nadal saw Jarvis forced out at second base, Rodolfo Nolasco belted a first-pitch offering from Tortosa onto the grass berm in left field, giving the Marauders a 4-3 lead.

Yunior Thibo pitched through a jam in the bottom of the eighth for Bradenton, allowing an infield single and a one-out walk. But after a balk advanced the Lakeland runners to second and third, Thibo struck out Esney Chacon and retired Veliz on a groundout to first base.

Dante Mendoza pitched the ninth inning, allowing a one-out walk to Izaac Pacheco but striking out the next two batters to seal the win and earn his first career save.

The Flying Tigers had scored first in the game, getting back-to-back RBI-singles from Justice Bigbie and Daneurys de la Cruz for a 2-0 lead against Marauders starter Justin Meis. But Meis settled down, allowing one baserunner in each of the next three innings but holding the Tigers scoreless, then ended his outing with a clean fifth inning.

In the top of the third, Randy…