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FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Cardinals Clip Miracle, 5-3, in Series Opener

August 29, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Fort Myers Miracle, 5-3, at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday night.

The Miracle scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning to open the scoring. With one out, Nick Gordon scorched a singled through the right side against Cardinals starter Derian Gonzalez. Then, Trey Vavra laced a 1-1 pitch from Gonzalez (1-2) into center field for a single. Oscar Mercado fumbled the ball on a hop and Miracle manager Jeff Smith waived Gordon around third to score the first run of the game, 1-0.

In the third, the Cardinals pulled ahead by a run. With one out, Andrew Sohn and Mercado reached on back-to-back singles. After Miracle starter Luke Westphal got Juan Herrera to fly out to center field, Danny Diekroger walked to load the bases. Westphal then issued a bases loaded free pass to Casey Grayson to tie the game. While making a 3-2 pitch to Thomas Spitz, Westphal balked in another run, 2-1.

The Miracle tied the game in the fourth. Alex Perez reached on a one-out infield single then Joe Maloney doubled into the right center gap to put runners at second and third. With Christian Ibarra at the dish, Gonzalez and catcher Chris Rivera got crossed up and Perez scored on a passed ball to knot the game, 2-2.

In the fifth another Gonzalez miscue aided the Miracle. Gordon led off with a triple into right center field and then raced home on a Gonazlez wild pitch while Vavra was at the dish, 3-2.

Palm Beach struck back in the sixth inning. After two scoreless innings from reliever Cameron Booser, the Miracle coughed up three runs. Thomas Spitz led off with a single and was then balked to second base. A Booser (0-2) wild pitch moved Spitz to third. Dylan Tice followed with a double into left center to bring home Spitz and tie the game. Confesor Lara replaced Booser and recorded the first out, but then surrendered an RBI double to Chris Rivera. Lara the retired Sohn on an infield pop up, but Mercado reached on a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed Rivera to score from second, 5-3.

In a losing effort, Gordon went 5-for-5 for the Miracle with four singles and a triple.

The Miracle (67-66, 33-31) continue a series with the Cardinals (54-78, 22-42) on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Miles Nordgren (1-4) gets the call for the Miracle against Sandy Alcantara (0-3) for Palm Beach. Fans can listen to the broadcast on MiracleBaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman beginning with the pregame show at 6:10 p.m.

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