Bradenton bests Tampa for first Florida State League crown

For the first time ever, Class A Advanced Bradenton are Florida State League champions.

The Marauders fired on all cylinders to defeat Tampa, 4-1, on Monday in Game 4 of the Florida State League finals at McKechnie Field.

Tampa took an early lead on Kevin Cornelius’ solo home run in the bottom of the second, but Bradenton quickly evened the score in the subsequent frame on catcher Taylor Gushue’s solo shot, his second homer of the postseason.

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Bradenton pushed across another run on Gushue’s sacrifice fly in the top of fifth, while right fielder Michael Suchy extended the Marauders lead to 3-1 with an RBI groundout to third base. In the eighth, Bradenton tacked on an insurance run when Kevin Kramer’s grounder was misplayed by Tampa second baseman Jorge Mateo.

Four runs was more than enough run support for Bradenton starter Jonathan Brubaker, who tossed six innings of one-run ball, scattering six hits and striking out five, to record his second postseason win in as many starts. Right-hander Tanner Anderson replaced Brubaker in the seventh and tossed three scoreless innings to seal the title. He allowed one hit and struck out five of the 10 hitters …

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