Marauders are minors’ last unbeaten

After relying on hitting during most of their unbeaten start, the Bradenton Marauders turned to pitching in a 4-1 victory against St. Lucie in a Florida State League game at First Data Field Wednesday.

Starter Pedro Vasquez and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, as the Marauders (7-0) became the last unbeaten team in minor league baseball. Portland (Maine), of the Eastern League, lost for the first time Wednesday after a 5-0 start.

Reliever Jess Amedee (2-0) earned the victory Wednesday with 2 1/3 perfect innings. Vasquez escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning with only one run scoring. He allowed six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Lakewood Ranch graduate Seth McGarry earned his first save with two innings or work. He walked one and struck out one. Wednesday marked the second time the Marauders have held a team to fewer than 3 runs. They shut out Charlottte 5-0 on Sunday.

The Marauders scored twice in the first inning and never relinquished the lead. Will Craig’s RBI single and Trace Tam Sing’s bases-loaded walk off Andrew Church (L, 0-2) accounted for the runs.

Kevin Krause finished a home run shy of the cycle, including an RBI triple in the two-run sixth.

Notes: Bradeton had 10 or more hits for the sixth time in seven games. ... The Marauders recross the state to play a doubleheader against the Tampa Yankees on Thursday in a rematch of the 2016 FSL championship series. ... First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. RHP Mitch Keller and RHP Logan Sendelbach will be the starters.

This story was originally published April 12, 2017 at 10:43 PM with the headline "Marauders are minors’ last unbeaten."