FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Dean Dazzles in Pitcher's Duel in Brevard County

Published on May 18, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


MELBOURNE, FL - Pat Dean struck out eight batters and allowed just one run in eight innings to pick up his third consecutive wine and guide the Miracle to a 2-1 victory at Space Coast Stadium on Friday night.

Dean's only mistake came in the second inning when Manatees left fielder Miguel Velazquez hit an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for a solo homerun. The Naugatuck, Conn. native rebounded with a 1-2-3 top half of the third inning and proceeded to blank the Brevard County hitters over the next five innings.

Completing four innings without a strikeout, Dean (3-2) found a groove in the fifth inning. With the Miracle still trailing 1-0, Dean fanned five Manatees in a row by striking out the side in the fifth and punching out the first two hitters of the sixth.

Fort Myers grabbed the lead in the top half of the sixth inning. With one out, Jairo Perez was hit by a pitch from Manatees starter Jimmy Nelson. The next pitch left the stadium. Oswaldo Arcia crushed a first pitch fastball from Nelson (2-4) over the wall in right center field for a two-run homer staking the Miracle to 2-1 advantage.

Dean would make the lead hold up with a little more help from Arcia. After another 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, including a strikeout, the Miracle starter would run into trouble in the eighth.

Manatee catcher Adam Weisenburger led off with a double to left center field. Dean would pick up his final two punchouts of the evening with Weisenburger in scoring position, getting Franklin Romero swinging and freezing Nick Shaw with a 1-2 fastball on the outside corner.

After battling Reggie Keen to a 2-2 count, Dean allowed a bloop hit into right field. Weisenburger was waved around third base and Arcia delivered a perfect throw to catcher Josmil Pinto to get the final out of the inning at the plate.

Nelson pitched a complete game for Brevard County, but Miracle manager Jake Mauer went to the bullpen for the ninth inning and brought in reliever Ricky Bowen.

Bowen gave up a lead-off single to T.J. Mittelstaedt who advanced to second on a misplay in center field by Angel Morales. A Cody Hawn groundout moved Mittelstaedt to third with one out.

The Miracle received another stellar defensive play next when Velazquez would lift an 0-1 pitch in foul ground towards the first base dugout. Michael Gonzales ventured towards the railing of the Brevard County dugout and reached out to snag the second out while preventing Mittelstaedt to advance home.

Picking up his third save, Bowen nailed down the Miracle win by striking out Mike Walker.

Dean's eight strikeouts are a season-high for an individual Miracle pitcher.

Having evened the series, 1-1, the Miracle (16-25) return to Space Coast Stadium on Saturday evening for the third of a four-game series. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. and fans can listen to all with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman at www.miraclebaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from May 18, 2012


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