Gordon Powers Miracle in 6-5 Extra Inning Win
April 15, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Nick Gordon led the offensive charge for the Fort Myers Miracle in 6-5 extra inning win over the Daytona Tortugas on Friday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Entering the seventh inning trailing 4-1, the Miracle sliced two runs off the deficit. Chris Paul led off with a single through the left side on a 1-2 pitch from Tortugas starter Wyatt Strahan. Logan Wade followed with a triple slashed into the gap in left center to bring home Paul. Strahan exited the game and Alex Powers entered from the Daytona pen.
Powers got Alex Real to ground out to third and keep Wade at third, but Brian Navarreto rolled a ground ball to second base. Navarreto was retired, but Wade scored to cut the Tortuga lead to 4-3.
In the eighth, Gordon put the Miracle on top. After a lead-off double from Alex Swim off Powers, Gordon smacked a 1-1 pitch on a line over the wall in left for a two-run shot, 5-4. The homer was Gordon's first in the Florida State League and gave him three RBI on the evening.
The Miracle were one out away from winning the game in the ninth, but reliever Yorman Landa could not put away the Tortugas. After striking out the side in the eighth and retiring the first two hitters of the ninth, Landa walked Ty Washington and Brian O'Grady. Aristedes Aquino then flared a single into center field and Washington scored to tie the game, 5-5. The Miracle ran down O'Grady at third base for the last out of the ninth.
In the tenth, Gordon sparked the offense with a double. On a 1-0 pitch from Jimmy Herget, Gordon laced an opposite field rocket off the wall. Herget left the game and Daytona brought in Brennan Bernardino to face Trey Vavra. On a 1-1 delivery, Vavra roped a double into left center field. Gordon scored standing and the Miracle regained the lead, 6-5.
Trevor Hildenberger was summoned from the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the tenth. Hildenberger struck out Angelo Gumbs and Avain Rachal to start the inning, but Taylor Sparks singled into left center. With Blake Butler at the plate, Sparks stole second base and Navarreto's throw went into center field allowing Sparks to reach third. Hildenberger then got Butler to fly out to center to end the game and nail down his third save of the season.
Gordon finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBI, a double, a homer and two runs scored.
The Miracle scored the first run of the game in the first inning off Strahan. Tanner English led off the game with a double into right center. Swim advanced English to third base with a ground out to first. Gordon then plated English on a roller to short for an RBI out, 1-0.
In the bottom of the first, Daytona answered quickly. Blake Trahan launched a 1-0 pitch from Miracle starter Tyler Jay beyond the fence in left field to tie the game, 1-1. The Tortugas added a second solo blast from Butler in the bottom of the second to gain a 2-1 edge.
Daytona extended the lead in the sixth when Butler laced a two-run double off Miracle reliever Luke Bard, 4-1.
Jay finished the evening with a no decision in his second start with two runs given up on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Todd Van Steensel tossed a scoreless inning in relief.
The Miracle (6-3) battle the Tortugas (3-6) in the second of a four-game series on Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. Fans can listen to the broadcast at www.miraclebaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 6:40 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from April 15, 2016
- Bullpen Blunders in 6-5 Loss - Daytona Tortugas
- Bullpen Blunders in 6-5 Loss - Daytona Tortugas
- Gordon Powers Miracle in 6-5 Extra Inning Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Mets Pitchers Strike out 16 in 4-0 Victory - St. Lucie Mets
- Manatees fall to Mets, 4-0 in Jackie Robinson Celebration Game - Brevard County Manatees
- Marauders Fall to Lakeland 8-4 - Bradenton Marauders
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