Dom Johnson and the Flying Tigers crush Bradenton with four home runs

The other affiliates were all rained out on Thursday, so it’s an all Lakeland recap today. The rest will play doubleheaders on Saturday to make up the rain outs.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 13, Bradenton Marauders 5 (F/7)(box)

The Marauders started strong in the this one, but the Flying Tigers offense would not be denied. Starter Pedro Garcia had a rough go right out of the gate. He walked five and allowed three runs, collecting just one out before manager Andrew Graham had to go get him. Chris Mauloni came on and settled things down, allowing one run in 2 ²⁄₃ innings of work.

That Marauders lead didn’t last long, however.

The Flying Tigers got one back in the bottom of the first when John Peck led off with a triple when the Marauders center fielder got hurt on the play. A wild pitch immediately score Peck, and it was 3-1 Bradenton.

They made it 4-1 in the top of the second inning, but in the bottom half the tide started to shift. Brett Callahan led off with a single, and after Cristian Santana popped out, Jose De La Cruz absolutely crushed a home run to left field to make it 4-3 Bradenton. Right fielder Dom Johnson followed with a double but was stranded. We’ll come back to Johnson repeatedly in this recap.

Clayton Campbell tied the game with a two out solo shot in the third.

Right-hander Thomas Bruss, recently signed to a minor league deal after posting some tasty clips of himself pumping high 90’s gas at his training center, took over in the fourth. He was fairly impressive, mixing a good riding fourseamer at 95-96 mph and showing a solid changeup and slider with potential. With two outs, an error on Callahan in center field allowed Jeral Toledo to reach second. Bruss allowed a single before getting the final out and the unearned run crossed to make it 5-4 Bradenton. From there it was all Lakeland.

In the bottom of the fourth, De La Cruz walked with one out and stole second base. Johnson singled him to third, and a dropped pop up allowed De La Cruz to score. Peck singled to right to load the bases, and Bradenton went to their bullpen. Jim Jarvis struck out, but Josue Briceño pulled a single through the infield to score two runs and give Lakeland a 7-5 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Dom Johnson came up with his third hit, this time a solo shot to left field. 8-5 Lakeland.

In the seventh, Briceño led off with another single, and Campbell doubled him to third. Callahan singled to center, scoring Briceño, and then a wild pitch scored Campbell. 10-5 Lakeland. They weren’t done though. With two outs, De La Cruz walked and then Johnson launched his second homer of the day to left field. 13-5 Lakeland. They wouldn’t need any more as the rain came in and the game was eventually called at seven innings.

Johnson: 4-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR, 2B

Campbell: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR, 2B

De La Cruz: 1-2, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 BB, K, SB

Callahan: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, BB

Bruss (W, 1-0): 2.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K