Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Oneil Cruz Highlights Walk Off Sunday

4-run 8th inning rally not enough for the Bradenton Marauders

The only Pirate minor league affiliate to come up short on Sunday afternoon was the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Following a 7-4 loss against the Dayton Tortugas, the Marauders are now 8-7 on the season.

Joelvis Del Rosario started for Bradenton. Del Rosario allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, on 5 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Cristian Charle and Junior Thibo allowed 5 runs on 2 hits, 5 walks, and no strikeouts in a combined 1.0 inning pitched.

For as much as Charle and Thibo struggled, it was the complete opposite for Denny Roman and Carlos Lomeli. Roman and Lomeli pitched a combined 3.1 innings, neither batter allowed a hit or walked a batter. They struck out a combined 5 batters.

The struggles of Charle and Thibo put the Marauders in a big hole. Entering the 8th inning they were trialing 7-0, but they scratched out 4 runs in the 8th inning. Catcher Jakob Goldfarb, left fielder Luke Brown and designated hitter Jacob Gonzalez drew three consecutive walks to start the inning.

Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng then hit a bases clearing triple. Cheng’s 1st triple of the season cut Dayton’s lead to 7-3. Right fielder Jase Bowen then singled home Cheng, making the score 7-4. After Alexander Mojica walked, Brenden Dixon hit into a double play to kill the rally.