FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Hu, Bullpen Combine to Blank Marauders in 9-0 Shutout

Published on May 6, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


BRADENTON, Fla. (May 6, 2015) - The Fort Myers Miracle offense exploded for nine runs on 12 hits and Chih-Wei Hu, Jose Velez and Alexis Tapia combined to shutout the Bradneont Marauders, 9-0, at McKechnie Field on Wednesday night.

The Miracle blitzed Marauders starter Felipe Gonzalez for eight runs in the first three innings. In the first, Alex Swim kicked off a rally with a two-out single into left to extend his team best hitting streak to 11 games. Bryan Haar followed with a base hit to right and Swim advanced to third base. With Niko Goodrum at the plate, Gonzalez (1-3) balked to force in the first run of the game and move Haar to second, 1-0.

Goodrum worked the count to 1-2 and then hit a rocket that landed on the netting over the Marauders bullpen in right field. The two-run blast was Goodrum's fourth of the season, besting his season total from 2014.

Leading 3-0, the Miracle knocked Gonzalez around in the third inning for five more runs. Zack Granite, Engelb Vielma and Swim all singled to load the bases with no outs. Haar then worked a count 2-2 before grounding a base hit through the middle and scoring Granite, 4-0.

Gonzalez rallied to strikeout Goodrum, but Jason Kanzler lined a base hit into center field. Vielma scored to give Kanzler an RBI, then Marauders center fielder Austin Meadows misplayed the ball and Swim raced home to give the Miracle a 6-0 lead. Haar and Kanzler each moved up a base to occupy second and third. Mitch Garver stepped up and chopped a single through the drawn-in Marauders infield to plate two more runs and push the Miracle to a commanding 8-0 advantage.

Fort Myers added one more run in the sixth on a two-out, RBI single from Granite. Eight of the nine starters in the Miracle lineup recorded a hit and the top four batters in the order each had two hits.

Hu (4-0) went five innings to earn his fourth win. Allowing just five hits and one walk, Hu struck out a pair and recorded 11-of-15 outs on the ground with no fly balls reaching the outfielders.

Jose Velez entered in the sixth and proceeded to deal three perfect innings. Retiring all nine hitters faced, Velez totaled four punch outs. Alexis Tapia faced the minimum in a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout. Tapia got the first two hitters, then allowed a single to Erich Weiss. Trying to stretch the base hit to a double, Weiss was nabbed by Logan Wade at the second base bag to end the game.

The Miracle (11-16) return to Hammond Stadium and host the Jupiter Hammerheads at 7:05 p.m. for Irish Heritage Night and Thirsty Thursday. Fans are reminded to wear green to the ballpark and can enjoy a pregame traditional Irish dance performance, green beer on tap, a corned beef reuben sandwich and other great Irish-themed promotions. It's also a Thirsty Thursday with half priced domestic draft beers through the seventh inning. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210 or ordering online at www.miraclebaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from May 6, 2015


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