Marauders Grand Slam Grounds Jays

The D-Jays (10-9) opened up with a 4-1 first inning lead, only to see the Bradenton Marauders (11-9) rally for a 7-6 win on at the stadium Wednesday.

Jays pitchers allowed only four hits on the night but gave up eight walks, not including the two batters hit by pitches. 

Jays reliever Steve Turnbull gave up the big blow of the night: a bases-loaded home run to Marauders centerfielder Evan Chambers. Turnbull, a University of Iowa alum, came onto the mound with bases loaded and one out in the seventh, and the Jays up 4-3. Turnbull struck out his first batter, Aaron Baker, the Florida State League's RBI leader. However, a hanging breaking ball to the light-hitting Chambers was the difference in the ball game.

Jays second baseman Ryan Schimpf's three-run homer, his third of the year, highlighted a four-run first inning. After the Marauders scored four in the seventh, the Jays Brian Van Kirk (7) would hit a two-run homer in the eighth to bring them within one.

The same two teams meet again today (July 14). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at . Probable starter for the D-Jays is Asher Wojciechowski, who is coming off a strong seven-inning shut out in his last appearance. The Marauders will send rehabbing Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Ross Ohlendorf to the mound.

Notes:

• The Gulf Coast Blue Jays fell to the Gulf Coast Pirates 8-3 on Wednesday. Winter Park High graduate Randall Thompson, who the Toronto Blue Jays signed as a free agent on June 13, pitched four-plus innings of one hit ball.