FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Christensen Walks off Miracle in 4-3, Twelve Inning Win

Published on June 6, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 6, 2015) - Chad Christensen walked off the Fort Myers Miracle in the twelfth inning with a bases loaded RBI single to sink the Bradenton Marauders, 4-3, at Hammond Stadium in front of 4,021 fans for Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

Tied 3-3, the Miracle led off the bottom of the twelfth when Alex Swim beat out an infield single to the shortstop off Marauders reliever Isaac Sanchez. After Sanchez (1-2) got Marcus Knecht to fly out to right field, Swim stole second base. The throw from Bradenton catcher Kawika Emsley-Pai sailed into center field and Swim moved up to third base on the throwing error.

Sanchez then walked Mitch Garver. Bradenton manager Michael Ryan replaced Sanchez with Brett McKinney. On his second pitch, McKinney struck Bryan Haar on the helmet to load the bases. Christensen then chopped a 1-0 pitch through the left side and past the diving gloves of both JaCoby Jones and Wyatt Mathisen. Swim trotted home and the Miracle celebrated a sixth walk-off victory of the season in the fifteenth extra inning game of the season.

Bradenton opened the scoring in the third inning off Miracle starter Aaron Slegers. With one out, Justin Maffei sliced a single into right field and then stole second base. Austin Meadows flew out to right field for the second out, but Jones battled Slegers on a 2-2 count before sending a high drive over the wall in left for a two-run homer, 2-0.

The Miracle cut the lead in half in the fourth inning. With one out, Haar roped a single into left off Marauders starter Luis Heredia. Haar then advanced to second on a wild pitch and over to third on a ground out to second base by Christensen. Tanner Vavra then flared a single into right on a 1-0 pitch to score a run, 2-1.

In the sixth, the Miracle drew even with a run. Christensen laid down a but single with one out to reach against Marauders reliever Montana DuRapau. Vavra beat out an infield hit to move Christensen to second. Then, on a 2-2 pitch, Engelb Vielma bounced a single through the right side to drive in Christensen and tie the game, 2-2.

Erich Weiss restored the Marauders one-run advantage five pitches into the seventh inning with a solo homer off Slegers. On a 3-1 pitch, Weiss lifted a fly ball 403 feet over the wall in left center to put Bradenton up 3-2.

The Miracle battled back to tie the game with two outs in the eighth. Marauders reliever Miguel Rosario struck out the first two hitters, but walked Vavra. Then, Vavra stole second and Rosario issued a free pass Vielma. With two on, Zack Granite pulled a grounder through the right side to score Vavra and tie the game 3-3 and eventually send the night to extra frames.

Slegers received a no decision after 6.2 innings with three runs, two walks and two strikeouts. Matt Summers pitched 1.1 innings scoreless and Brandon Peterson did not allow a run in two innings.

In his second appearance of the season, Corey Williams stranded a pair of runners over two frames with two strikeouts. Williams (1-0) picked up the victory.

The Miracle (26-30) are off on Sunday and hit the road on Monday to begin a four-game series with the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Fans can listen to the game at 6:30 p.m. with the MiracleBaseball.com pregame show starting at 6:05 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from June 6, 2015


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