FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Gruver, Bullpen Combine for Two-Hit Shutout in 4-0 Victory

Published on August 9, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


JUPITER, Fla. - The trio of Steven Gruver, B.J. Hermsen and Brandon Peterson combined to toss a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 win for the Fort Myers Miracle over the Palm Beach Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday evening.

Gruver (3-6) started and surrendered just one hit in five innings while fanning three and walking two. Gruver faced just two batters over the minimum in his five innings. The Miracle offense handed Gruver a lead before he even threw a pitch.

In the first inning, Adam Brett Walker staked Fort Myers to a 2-0 lead with a tape measure home run to left center. With one out, Byron Buxton singled into center off Cardinals starter Nick Petree. Travis Harrison flew out for the second out, but Walker made sure the Miracle touched home plate in the inning. On a 2-1 pitch, Walker smashed a hanging breaking ball from Petree (5-4) off the building beyond the wall in left center.

The home run for Walker was his 24th of the season and his RBI total is now 85. Walker leads the Florida State League in both categories.

Max Kepler added a two-out RBI single in the fourth. Harrison led off with a double down the third base line off Petree. After Walker struck out, Stuart Turner moved Harrison to third on a grounder to first. Then, Max Kepler punched a 1-0 pitch from Petree into left to score Harrison and give the Miracle a 3-0 advantage.

In the fifth, Aderling Mejia started the inning with a line drive base hit. After Levi Michael struck out, Buxton picked up his second hit of the night with a one-out single into left. Harrison then smashed a 2-2 pitch from Petree into the gap in left center for his second double of the night, scoring Mejia and pushing the lead to 4-0.

Mejia finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored. Harrison and Buxton each went 2-for-4.

Hermsen took over for Gruver in the sixth and tossed two scoreless frames while allowing one hit and punching out two.

Peterson entered in the eighth and retired all six batters faced in two perfect frames. The shutout for the Miracle staff is the second in a row after Brett Lee went the complete nine in Friday's win over the St. Lucie Mets.

Petree lasted eight innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.

Winners of three in a row and four of the last five, the Miracle (69-47, 28-19) return to Roger Dean Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. game on Sunday afternoon with Palm Beach. Fans can listen to every pitch on www.miraclebaseball.com with the 'Voice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman. The Head Quarters pregame show is set for air at 12:40 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from August 9, 2014


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