Marauders down Cardinals 5-2

The Marauders got a stellar start from Austin Coley to defeat the Cardinals on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. Coley needed just 79 pitches to toss seven innings and improve to 4-0 against Palm Beach this season.

Coley’s night didn’t start off great. He walked his first batter and then surrendered a two-run home run to Juan Herrera to put the Cardinals on top 2-0. From there the righty cruised. Coley allowed just four more hits and did not walk another batter while striking out three.

Brennan Leitao was sharp on the mound for the Cardinals, throwing 7 2/3 innings and striking out five. Tito Polo reached in the fourth inning when one of his four strikeouts ended on a wild pitch. Kevin Kramer singled Polo to third. Polo scored Bradenton’s first run on a double-play grounder. Pablo Reyes led off the sixth inning with his fourth home run of the season to tie the score 2-2. Reyes had three hits and a walk in the game.

The Marauders took the lead for good on Jordan Luplow’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Kramer added an RBI double in the eighth inning and scored on a single from Jerrick Suiter as Bradenton tacked on an insurance run.

Tate Scioneaux collected a six-out save. He struck out the final two batters to strand two men in the ninth.

Up next: The Marauders continue their series at Palm Beach with a doubleheader, with Austin Coley (11-8, 4.68) taking the hill for Bradenton against Ian McKinney (7-8, 4,45) for Palm Beach in the first game. Second-game pitchers have not yet been named. First pitch will be at 5 p.m. Follow the games online at BradentonMarauders.com.

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Marauders down Cardinals 5-2."