FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Batts Deals, Miracle Fend off Late Mets Rally, 5-3

July 4, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL - Mat Batts tossed six scoreless frames to lead the Fort Myers Miracle to a 5-3 win over the St. Lucie Mets on Independence Day at Hammond Stadium in front of 8,011 patriotic patrons on Saturday evening.

The Miracle offense helped Batts (3-2) out by scoring early off Mets starter Kevin McGowan. In the second, McGowan (5-7) struck Mitch Garver to start the inning. Jason Kanzler then lined a base hit up the middle. After a failed bunt attempt from Ryan Walker and a strikeout of Bryan Haar, McGowan surrendered a two-out hit to Chad Christensen. On a 3-1 pitch, Christensen lobbed a broken bat flare into center field to drive in Garver, 1-0.

Two innings later, the Miracle scratched a second run across against McGowan. Garver started the inning with a walk. Kanzler and Walker followed with base hits to put a runner at every bag. Haar then rolled into a 6-4-3 double play to bring in another run and push the Miracle lead to 2-0.

In the fifth, Tanner Vavra led off with an opposite field single to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Zack Granite sliced a hit into left field and Vavra moved to third. With runners on the corners, Engelb Vielma hit a 3-1 pitch into center field for a sacrifice fly. Vavra scored and the Miracle lead extended to 3-0.

The final blow against McGowan came in the seventh. Granite ripped a lead-off triple over Victor Cruzado's head in right field. As Granite was sliding into third base for a triple, Phil Evans cut-off throw deflected off Granite and bounced into the Miracle dugout. Granite was awarded home plate, 4-0. After a ground out from Vielma, Swim restarted the offense with a single through the left side. Garver earned his second walk of the game. Kanzler bounced into a force play at third to retire Swim for the second out.

Walker stepped up and hit a slow ground ball off the back of the pitcher's mound. Shortstop Jeff McNeil made a sliding attempt and knocked the ball down, but Garver raced around third base to put the Miracle up 5-0.

Batts earned the win and exited prior to the seventh inning. In his six frames, Batts gave up just two hits, walked two and struck out six. Batts lowered his season ERA to 2.01.

Dallas Gallant entered out of the Miracle bullpen and went two scoreless innings with a pair of punchouts. Tyler Jay came on in the ninth with a five-run lead, but struggled. The Minnesota Twins first round pick this year gave up three runs, but only one was earned and two were inherited runners for Todd Van Steensel.

Needing one out with the bases loaded and a four-run advantage, manager Jeff Smith called on Todd Van Steensel to finish the game. Van Steensel's first pitch to McNeil was sliced into left center to drive in a pair and cut the Miracle lead to 5-3. Van Steensel rallied for his tenth save of the season when he got Jairo Perez to ground out pitcher to first and end the game.

The Miracle (44-36, 6-4) continue the series with the Mets (40-40, 5-5) at Hammond Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Fans can pick up complimentary general admission tickets with $2 upgrades to box seats at local Dairy Queen locations. Gates open at 3 p.m. For tickets and information, visit www.miraclebaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from July 4, 2015


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