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 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Edge Yankees, 2-1, in Thirteen Innings

July 16, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The Fort Myers Miracle outlasted the Tampa Yankees in a 13-inning series finale, 2-1, to earn a split at Steinbrenner Field on Saturday evening.

Tied 1-1 going into the top of the thirteenth, the Miracle squeaked across the eventual game-winning run by capitalizing on a Tampa error. Tanner Witt led off with a single into shallow center field off Yankees reliever Jonny Drozd. Nick Gordon then sacrificed Witt to second base with a bunt. Chris Paul was the next batter. On a 3-2 pitch, Paul hit a ground ball to shortstop that bounced off Abiatal Avelino's chest. Hurrying to recover, Avelino threw over the first baseman's head and Witt was awarded home plate, 2-1.

In the bottom of the 13th, Michael Theofanopoulos returned to the mound after pitching a perfect eleventh and leaving the bases loaded in the twelfth. Theofanopoulos (1-1) threw a season-high 52 pitches put the Yankees down in order in the thirteenth to secure the victory.

Drozd (0-1) took the loss for the Yankees.

Tampa broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit. Miracle reliever John Curtiss issued a walk to Zack Zehner. A Curtiss (0-1) wild pitch moved Zehner to second. Then, Avelino hit a line drive that hit off the glove of Tanner Witt at second base for an error. With runners on the corners, Kevin Cornelius rolled into the fifth double play turned by the Miracle middle infield on the night, but Zehner scored, 1-0.

Sam Clay started the game for the Miracle and received a no decision. Clay issued a Miracle individual season-high seven walks, but induced four double plays and kept the Yankees scoreless for five innings.

Tampa starter Josh Rogers hurled six shutout frames with only three hits allowed and four strikeouts.

In the eighth, T.J. White tied the game with a solo home run off Tampa reliever Dillon McNamara. On a 2-0 pitch, White sent a majestic drive down the left field line that cleared the fence, 1-1. The homer was White's fifth of the season.

The Miracle (48-44, 14-9) return to Hammond Stadium on Sunday afternoon for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch with the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Fans can pick up complimentary general admission tickets at local Dairy Queen restaurants in Lee and Collier Counties. Fans can upgrade to a box seat for $2 at the Miracle box office. For more information, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.


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