FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Jones Knocks in Game-Winner in Marauders 6-5 Walk-Off in 11

Published on June 14, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


BRADENTON, Fla. (June 14, 2015) - JaCoby Jones delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eleventh inning to guide the Bradenton Marauders to a 6-5 win over the Fort Myers Miracle at McKechnie Field on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 5-4 going into the ninth inning, the Miracle tied the game on a Chad Christensen pinch-hit RBI. Mitch Garver led off the inning against Marauders reliever Frank Duncan with a walk and was replaced by Engelb Vielma at first base. Bryan Haar was then struck by a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs. Duncan induced a 3-6-3 double play out of Ryan Walker to pick up the first two outs of the inning as Vielma cruised over to third base. Christensen then stepped in and tapped a weak ground ball to the shortstop. Jones charged, gloved and threw to first, but Christensen reached the bag before the toss and Vielma scored, 5-5.

Miracle reliever Todd Van Steensel entered and retired the side in the ninth to force extra innings for a seventeenth time this season. The Miracle have now tied the team record for the most extra inning games in a single season, matched in both 1996 and 2002.

Van Steensel also tossed a scoreless tenth and Marauders reliever Montana DeRapau was perfect in the tenth and eleventh setting the stage for Jones. Miracle reliever Luke Westphal took over from the bullpen and retired the Chris Diaz on a grounder to short, but Justin Maffei reached on a single up the middle. Harold Ramiez then bounced a chopper through the infield to put runners at first and second. Jones hit a one-hop line drive that skipped over Walker's glove at second base and into right field. Maffei raced around to score and give the Marauders the walk-off win.

DeRapau (1-0) earned the victory out of the Bradenton bullpen. Westphal (2-3) took the loss.

The Miracle jumped on Maraduers starter Tyler Eppler in the third inning of his Florida State League debut. With one out, Tanner Vavra lined a single into right center field and then moved to second on a walk issued to Zack Granite. Eppler then got Jason Kanzler on a pop up to shallow right field for the second out.

With two on and two down, Alex Swim delivered a clutch RBI single into center field on a 1-2 pitch from Eppler. Marcus Knecht then followed with a two-run double off the wall in left field to push the Miracle lead to 3-0. A third consecutive two-out RBI hit came from Garver on a smoked line drive into left field to bring in Knecht, 4-0.

In the bottom of the third, the Marauders chipped away at the Miracle lead by scoring on a wild pitch from starter Stephen Gonsalves. Then, in the fourth, Gonsalves struggled with his command and walked in two runs with the bases loaded. After two outs and two hits from Barrett Barnes and Edwin Espinal respectively, Gonsalves failed to find the strikezone on three consecutive Bradenton batters. Diaz and Maffei each earned an RBI on a bases loaded free pass, 4-3.

Bradenton drew even in the bottom of the fifth. Miracle reliever Matt Summers gave up a bouncing ball through the left side to Barnes. Granite was slow to get the ball to the cut-off in the outfield, Barnes hustled into second with a double. Erich Weiss then hit a ground ball to shortstop. In an attempt to get the lead runner at third base, Walker's throw bounced in the dirt and Barnes was safe. With runners on the corners, Espinal sent a drive to center field for a sacrifice fly and Barnes trotted home to tie the game, 4-4.

In the sixth, the Marauders took the lead off Summers (0-2). Kawika Emsley-Pai coaxed a walk to start the frame and then advanced to third on a base hit from Diaz. With runners on the corners, Summers picked off Diaz and then got Maffei to ground out to third. Nearly out of the jam, Ramirez sent a one-hopper through the right side to bring in Emsley-Pai and push the Marauders in front, 5-4, until Christensen tied the game in the ninth.

The Miracle (31-32) return to Hammond Stadium on Monday to open a four-game series with the Daytona Tortugas. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (239) 768-4210 or ordering online at www.miraclebaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from June 14, 2015


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