Herald staff report

BRADENTON -- The Bradenton Marauders rallied from multiple early deficits to defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals 10-7 Sunday night at McKechnie Field.

The Marauders (22-21) took two of three from the Cardinals (22-23) and sit a half game behind the Jupiter Hammerheads after Sunday's games.

The game's first run scored in the bottom of the first when Mel Rojas Jr. struck out swinging on a wild pitch in the dirt. Catcher Geoffrey Klein's throw to first was errant. As Rojas Jr. was running first to third, Rainel Rosario threw the ball from right field into the stands behind third base to send the runner home.

The seesaw affair saw the lead change hands in each of the first five innings. Five Palm Beach errors contributed to four of the Marauders runs. The Cardinals committed multiple errors on two plays. A pair of bases-loaded walks sent Palm Beach starter Seth Blair to the showers after only an inning and a third.

Palm Beach scored runs in four straight innings against Casey Sadler, chasing the Marauder's starter with two outs in the fourth. Sadler allowed seven runs for the second time in his last three starts.

Gift Ngoepe went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. Ngoepe singled through a drawn-in infield on a three-balls-no-strikes pitch. Alex Dickerson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Jhonathan Ramos earned the win in relief of Sadler. Zach Foster retired the final five batters for his fourth save. Aidan Lucas (L, 1-1) allowed four earned runs in his first losing decision for Palm Beach.

The game included a 19-minute lightening delay in the sixth inning.

The Marauders are off on Monday before beginning a six-game road trip Tuesday at Charlotte. The game Tuesday begins at 6:30 p.m.