Herald staff report

BRADENTON -- The Bradenton Marauders used dominant starting pitching and a timely home run from Alex Dickerson to down the Charlotte Stone Crabs 6-3 on Monday night at McKechnie Field.

Jameson Taillon turned in one of the best starts of his professional career, pitching into the eighth inning and receiving a no-decision.

Taillon held the Stone Crabs (4-7) scoreless on two hits through the first seven innings. He struck out two batters and also walked two. He faced two batters in the eighth inning with the Marauders leading 3-0. Robi Estrada walked to conclude a nine-pitch at-bat, the Lucas Bailey doubled to chase Taillon. Quinton Miller entered in relief and allowed three runs on an RBI-single, a passed ball, and a fielder's choice.

In the home half of the eighth, Junior Sosa led off by scorching a single off the glove of Riccio Torrez at third base. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Dickerson hammered his seventh home run of the year off Lenny Linsky to put Bradenton back in front. Miller worked a scoreless ninth for the win.

Bradenton opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly from Dickerson in the fourth inning after Mel Rojas Jr. hit his second triple of the game to start that inning. Rojas Jr. is only the second Marauder to triple twice in one game. Elevys Gonzalez tripled twice in a game last August. The Marauders added two runs in the fifth inning on an errant throw by Bailey from the catcher position and a sacrifice fly from Sosa.

The Marauder (7-5) have won consecutive games against the Stone Crabs heading into Tuesday's series finale at McKechnie Field. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Marauders will wear patriotic jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. There will be a spectacular postgame fireworks display sponsored by Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.