FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Corcino, Miracle Win 8-3 in Grand Fashion

Published on May 2, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


JUPITER, Fla. - The Fort Myers Miracle knocked off the Palm Beach Cardinals, 8-3, at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday evening.

The Miracle popped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after some sloppy play by the Cardinals. With one out, Edgar Corcino lofted a full count pitch from Palm Beach starter Austin Gomber into shallow left center field for a single. Then, Nick Gordon hit a high chopper to the right side. Cardinals second baseman Mikey Reynolds fielded the ball, but his throw clipped the glove of Casey Grayson at first and rolled towards the Palm Beach dugout. Corcino advanced to third base.

With runners on the corners, Gomber (3-2) struck Trey Vavra with the first pitch to load the bases. Chris Paul stepped up and saw one strike before a Gomber breaking ball tagged him on the shoulder. Paul was credited with an RBI as the hit batter forced home Corcino. Alex Swim then pulled a grounder to second base. Swim was retired, but Gordon crossed home to put the Miracle up 2-0.

Palm Beach cut into the Miracle advantage in the bottom of the third. Miracle starter Stephen Gonsalves retired the first two batters on groundouts to second, but Andrew Sohn coaxed a walk. Reynolds followed with a bouncing single through the left side. Oscar Mercado then hit a hard grounder up the middle. Gordon made a diving stab, but his side arm flip to second base was wide and Sohn scored, 2-1.

In the fourth, the Miracle extended the lead to 6-1 on a two-out grand slam from Corcino. Swim led off with a base hit to left, but was forced out at second base when Alex Real hit a ground ball to third base. Max Murphy then singled to right field. Chad Christensen also hit into a force play to erase Murphy at second and put runners at the corners. Gomber then walked Ryan Walker to load the bases. Corcino took a first pitch strike, but blasted the next offering over the wall in left field to clear the bases. The homer was Corcino's first of the season and the first grand slam for the Miracle this year. Fort Myers has now homered in six consecutive games.

Gonsalves (3-1) went six innings and surrendered just one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Todd Van Steensel entered out of the Miracle bullpen in the seventh and tossed a scoreless frame, but the Cardinals picked up a pair of runs in the eighth. Reynolds led off with triple into left center and was singled home by Mercado. A throwing error on the same play by Gordon moved Mercado to second. Van Steensel fanned Blake Drake and Casey Grayson's ground bal out to short advanced Mercado to third. With two outs, Danny Diekroeger singled through the right side to plate Mercado and cut the Miracle advantage to 6-3.

In the top of the ninth, the Miracle restored a five-run edge. Facing Cardinals reliever Michael Heesch, Alex Real launched his second homer of the season. On an 0-1 pitch, Real cleared the left field fence for a solo shot. Heesch then struck out Murphy, but Christensen singled up the middle and moved to second on a base hit from Walker. Corcino worked a walk to load the bases. Gordon then hit a grounder to short. Mercado's throw was off the mark to Reynolds at second base and Corcino was ruled safe with Christensen crossing home on the play, 8-3.

Raul Fernandez recorded the final three outs to secure the victory.

The Miracle (14-11) play the Cardinals (14-11) in game two of the series on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Fans can listen to the play-by-play with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman beginning with the MiracleBaseball.com pregame show at 6:05 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from May 2, 2016


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