FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Garza Rolls Again as Miracle Win 4-1

Published on May 8, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


ST. LUCIE, FL (May 8, 2006) - The fans of the Fort Myers Miracle better get their tickets for Saturday night at Hammond Stadium because that's the next time Matt Garza is scheduled to pitch and there is no telling how long he will be wearing a Miracle jersey in 2006. He dominated once again and his offense got the runs they needed in a 4-1 Miracle victory over the St. Lucie Mets on Monday night at Tradition Field.

Garza, who entered the game with the second best ERA in the Florida State League at 0.86, retired the final 11 batters he faced and didn't allow a ball out of the infield from the sixth through eighth inning. As a matter of fact, other than the four base hits, only one other ball reached the outfield, a fly out by Jose Coronado in the first inning. Garza gave up back-to-back hits in the second and fifth and nothing else.

In the second Shawn Bowman hit a 2-0 fastball over the right field wall, his second of the season, that cut the Miracle lead to 3-1. The next hitter Jesus Flores hit the first pitch he saw into right field for a hit, but Garza got Josh Peterson on strikes and Caleb Stewart to pop out to second.

In the fifth, Garza gave up a single to right-center to Peterson and a single to left to Caleb Stewart, both with one out. He walked Corey Coles to load the bases, but got Anderson Hernandez to pop out to short and Jose Coronado on strikes to get out of the jam. Garza went 8.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out nine in improving to 5-0.

The Miracle, who improved to 18-13, got all the run support Garza needed in the first two innings. Matt Tolbert hit a hanging breaking ball over the right field wall in the first, a solo shot and his first of the season, to give the Miracle a 1-0 lead.

In the second Luke Hughes led off with a double to left. With one out Deacon Burns singled him home and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. After a walk to Korey Feiner put runners at first and second, Justin Arneson hit a grounder to second. The Mets got the force at second, but the relay throw to first went wide and it allowed Burns to score to make it 3-0.

The Miracle tacked on one more in the seventh when Burns reached on an infield single. Feiner then hit a ground ball in the hole between first and second, that second baseman Hernandez made a great diving play on, but his throw to second was wild and went into foul territory and that allowed Burns to score.

JP Martinez tossed the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season.

The same two teams meet Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the finale of the four game series at Tradition Field. The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-3, 3.86) to the hill against Mets RHP Jose Sanchez (3-1, 2.04).

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Florida State League Stories from May 8, 2006


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