The Lakeland Flying Tigers (53-58, 22-24) secured their first six-game series win since May with a 4-1 win over the Bradenton Marauders (48-64, 17-30) on Sunday afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Lakeland began the scoring with two runs in the second off Bradenton starter Yonleg Gaetano. Jesus Pinto led off with a double, scored on an RBI double from Javier Osorio and Jordan Yost plated Osorio on an RBI single, with Osorio scoring from second, giving the Flying Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Lakeland starter Grayson Grinsell put his team in line for the win with 4.0 shutout innings of one-hit ball while striking out five.
Lakeland added one more run in the sixth off reliever Wifrailyn Jaquez. Michael Oliveto led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single from Nick Dumesnil to extend the lead to 3-0.
The Flying Tigers scored one more run off Jaquez in the eighth. Dumesnil doubled and Pinto drove him in on an RBI single, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Bradenton got on the board with one run in the ninth off reliever Frenny Grant. Jack Scanlon singled, Luke Scherrer walked and Bralyn Brazoban drove in Scanlon on an RBI single but left the tying run on base as Lakeland secured a 4-1 series-clinching victory.
Xiomer Guacache (3-3) earned the win, going 3.0 shutout innings while allowing one hit, striking out three and walking three. Gaetano (0-5) took the loss despite throwing 5.0 shutout innings and allowing just three hits while punching out three.
Lakeland travels to St. Lucie to take on the Mets for a six-game set beginning on Tuesday at 6:10 p.m. Both teams' starters are to be determined.
