NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Cardinals Edge Miracle, 3-1

May 24, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Palm Beach Cardinals knocked off the Fort Myers Miracle, 3-1, at Hammond Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Miracle earned a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Logan Wade reached on a walk from Palm Beach starter and Bonita Springs native Matt Pearce. Wade then advanced to second base when Chris Paul flew out to deep right field. Pearce (5-1) got the next batter, Nick Gordon, to hit a ground ball to short, but Oscar Mercado fumbled the fielding opportunity. Miracle manager Jeff Smith waved Wade around third base to score, 1-0.

Palm Beach gained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Mercado singled up the middle off Miracle starter Tyler Jay. Allen Staton pulled a base hit through the left side to push Mercado to second base. With Jesse Jenner at the dish, Mercado swiped third. Jenner followed with a ground ball to short that plated Mercado and tied the game. The next batter, Michael Pritchard, lined a base hit up the middle and Staton scored from second, 2-1.

Jay (3-4) went five innings for the Miracle and struck out a season-high eight while allowing two runs. Jay walked one and allowed six hits. Jay and the Miracle bullpen combined for a team-high 14 strikeouts for an individual game this season.

Pearce qualified for the win for the Cardinals after going five innings and surrendering just one unearned run on five hits with a walk and two punch outs.

The Cardinals added a run to the lead in the top of the sixth. Blake Drake led off with a single into left off Miracle reliever Brandon Peterson. Drake then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Peterson struck out Mercado, but Staton's ground out to short plated Drake to push the Palm Beach advantage to 3-1.

Palm Beach's bullpen combined to toss four innings of scoreless relief with Rowan Wick picking up his second save of the season after finishing the ninth.

The Miracle (24-22) face the Cardinals (21-25) on Wednesday night in the second game of the series at Hammond Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Keaton Steele (1-4) is slated to start for Fort Myers against Palm Beach lefty Ian McKinney (3-3). Fans can join the Stevie Tomato's Mug Club on Wednesdays for $12. The mug club includes a general admission ticket and your first drink for free when you join. Inside the gates, the mug gets you $2 domestic draft beers and fountain soda as well as $3 craft beers and well drinks. Fans can take their mug to Stevie Tomato's after the game to get 50 percent off their food order and a first drink for free.

For more information, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.

Check out the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Florida State League message board...

Florida State League Stories from May 24, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central