LAKELAND, Fla. – Eddie King Jr. crushed a go-ahead solo homer in the top of the eighth inning, but the Lakeland Flying Tigers (24-19) rallied to walk it off in the ninth for a 3-2 win against the Bradenton Marauders (22-21) on Friday from Publix Field. Dylan Palmer increased his hitting streak to eight games, while Yonleg Gaetano tossed 6.0 no-hit innings.
The Marauders began the scoring in the top of the fifth off Flying Tigers reliever Jatnk Diaz. Eddie Rynders reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a single by Palmer. A throwing error allowed Rynders to score and make it a 1-0 ballgame.
After Lakeland tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, King Jr. clobbered a solo homer off Flying Tigers reliever Pedro Garcia to make it 2-1.
The Flying Tigers scratched across two runs in the bottom of the ninth against Marauders reliever Draven Zeigler, finalizing a 3-2 win for Lakeland.
Yendy Gomez (2-1) notched the win, walking two with a strikeout over 1.0 frame. Zeigler (3-2) took the loss, letting up two runs (zero earned) on two hits and three strikeouts over 1.2 innings.
The Marauders and Flying Tigers play the penultimate of a six-game series on Saturday from Publix Field with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. RHP Levi Sterling (2-2, 6.16) takes the ball for Bradenton, while LHP Caleb Leys (0-2, 5.56) is on the mound for Lakeland.
For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call 941-747-3031, visit www.BradentonMarauders.com, or email MaraudersInfo@pirates.com.