How Sweep it is, Miracle Clinch West With Double Header Sweep of Reds
Published on September 2, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
SARASOTA, FL - If the goal of the Florida State League is to develop and learn from a long season, then consider the 2006 season a success for the Fort Myers Miracle. After losing the first half in heart breaking fashion, the Miracle made sure the same thing didn't happen in the second half and can now call themselves Second Half Western Division Champs, taking both games of the double header on Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium over the Sarasota Reds 3-1 in game one and 9-1 in game two. The Miracle hold the tie breaker with the Tampa Yankees by virtue of winning the second half series five games to four, meaning Sunday's games won't effect the standings as the Miracle lead the division by one game with one to go.
The Miracle clinched it with a game two victory because the Yankees also won game one of their double header. The Miracle got out of the gates fast scoring two runs in the first inning. With one out Trevor Plouffe walked. David Winfree doubled him to third and Steve Tolleson brought them both home with a two run single to center making it 2-0.
The Reds answered with a run in the bottom of the first when Marland Williams led off with a single to left. Tonys Gutierrez sacrificed him to second and Jay Garthwaite followed with an RBI single to left center.
The Miracle put the game away in the fourth with a four run inning. Brock Peterson led off with a towering homer to left-center to make it 3-1. The homer set a new Miracle single season home run mark of 21 and a career homer mark of 33. Tommy Peterman (1998) and Matthew LeCroy (1999) each hit 20 in a season and LeCroy hit 32 in his career. Tolleson and Andrus each followed with singles. Luke Hughes doubled to drive home Tolleson and make it 4-1. Two batters later Justin Arneson plated Andrus with a sac fly and Brandon Roberts followed with an RBI single to make it 6-1 and put the game away.
Game one was an old fashioned pitchers duel, but the Miracle came up with the big clutch hits when they needed it. None bigger than the one from Tolleson in the sixth. With the game tied at one and one out he hit a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall, a solo shot, his fourth of the season, to put the Miracle up 2-1.
The pitching held on from there. Miracle starter Anthony Swarzak gave up a lead off single in the bottom of the sixth, but Marland Williams failed to lay down three sacrifice bunts and struck out. After Swarzak walked Tonys Gutierrez Miracle,manager Kevin Boles called upon one of his closers, Danny Powers. He struck out the next two hitters to end the inning. Swarzak went 5.1 innings allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Miracle got an insurance run in the seventh when Plouffe doubled with two outs. Winfree followed with an RBI single.
Powers made it a little dicey in the bottom of the seventh when he gave up a two out single to J.D. Roberts and walked Gary Patchett. He struck out Phillip Gentry, however, to end the game and earn his 10th save of the season.
The Reds got on the board first in the fourth when Jay Garthwaite reached on a two out single. Jeremiah Piepkorn followed with an RBI double to put the Reds up 1-0.
The Miracle answered in the top of the fifth on three straight singles from Jeremy Pickrel, Brandon Roberts and Plouffe, the driving in the run.
The Miracle close the regular season against the Reds on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The Miracle send RHP Josh Hill (6-5, 5.09) to the mound against Reds RHP James Avery (7-8, 4.67).
Florida State League Stories from September 2, 2006
- Mets Beat Dodgers - Vero Beach Devil Rays
- How Sweep it is, Miracle Clinch West With Double Header Sweep of Reds - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- 5,906 First Pitches - Brevard County Manatees
- Miracle Set All-Time Attendance Mark in 2006 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- First Pitch Event On-Going - Brevard County Manatees
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