FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Gonzales Slam Caps Miracle 13-4 Rout of Jupiter

Published on April 5, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 5, 2014) - The Fort Myers Miracle put on an impressive offensive performance in front of a home opener crowd of 8.411 on Saturday night, plowing down the Jupiter Hammerheads, 13-4.

Fort Myers plated eight in the first inning. Levi Michael reached with a single to start off the Miracle half and was forced home on awalk issued to Adam Brett Walker. Jorge Polanco and Dalton Hicks were granted a base before Walker. All three came around to score on three consecutive RBI singles by Max Kepler, Mike Gonzales and Travis Harrison. Niko Goodrum rounded out the inning with a three-RBI double to center field, bringing his season total to five.

Bats on both sides remained quiet until the fourth. Jupiter tallied one run in the top half of the inning as Blake Barber smacked an RBI double off Brett Lee to bring home Viosergy Rosa.

Fort Myers answered with a vengeance in the bottom of the inning. After chasing Hammerheads starter Jake Esch (0-1), the team showed no mercy to his successor Colby Suggs. With the bases packed, Stuart Turner was hit by a pitch to bring home Jorge Polanco and reloaded the bases for Mike Gonzales.

Gonzales capped the inning and the Miracle run count with a first-pitch grand slam over the right field fence, his first home run of the year. The blast put the Miracle up 13-1. Gonzales finished the night 2-for-5 with five RBI.

Lee (1-0) kept the Hammerheads off the board further until the sixth. The southpaw managed two consecutive ground outs but failed to retire a third, concluding his outing with two earned runs off five hits and earning his first win. Matt Juengel slapped a single to left field and came around to score on an Angel Morales base hit. Barber followed suit with his second RBI of the day and advanced to second as center fielder Max Kepler threw to an empty third base. Morales scored on the error.

Matt Tomshaw relieved Lee, retiring Josh Adams to minimalize the damage. The Hammerheads scraped a run off Tomshaw in the top of the eighth with a Morales ground out allowing Terrence Dayleg to cross the plate.

Brian Gilbert made his Miracle debut in the ninth and surrendered a leadoff single to Adams before retiring the next three to end the game.

Esch took the loss for the Hammerheads after pitching three innings and allowing eight earned runs on six hits.

The Miracle (3-0) conclude the series with the Hammerheads (0-3) on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Highly touted prospect Jose Berrios will make his Miracle debut as the starting pitcher. Fans can pick up a voucher for a free ticket at SUBWAY© restaurants around Lee and Collier counties.

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