Herald staff report

BRADENTON -- The Bradenton Marauders scored four straight runs in the fifth and sixth innings to defeat Lakeland in a game that was called due to rain after the top of the seventh on Thursday night.

Mel Rojas Jr. was denied the chance to hit for the cycle by a large rain storm. He ended 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and a triple on his birthday.

Tyler Waldron became the first Marauders starting pitcher to work into the seventh inning this season. Waldron set down the last 13 men he faced after allowing two runs, one earned, in the third inning. He struck out seven batters and didn't allow a walk.

Rojas staked the Marauders to a 2-0 lead in the first with his second home run of the season. He doubled leading off the fourth inning, but was left on base. In the sixth he chased Flying Tigers starter Brian Stroud with a run-scoring triple.

Dan Grovatt untied a 2-2 game with a home run leading off the bottom of the fifth. The homer was his fourth of the season, tied for second on the team.

Gift Ngoepe went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Stefan Welch and Alex Dickerson each drove in runs for the Marauders in the three-run sixth inning.

The Marauders hit the road for three games at Jupiter heading into an off day on Memorial Day. The Marauders play on the road for 11 of their next 14 games. Today's game is slated for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. The game can be heard on News Talk 930 WLSS and online at WLSSradio.com.