Knecht Leads Miracle Offense in 10-3 Victory over Cardinals
Published on June 22, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 22, 2015) - The Fort Myers Miracle set a season-high with 19 hits in a 10-3 drubbing of the Palm Beach Cardinals at Hammond Stadium on Monday evening.
The Miracle offense blitzed Cardinals starter Will Anderson in the first inning. Sending 10 men to the plate, the Miracle scored four runs on five hits. Zack Granite led off with a bloop single into left field, then advanced to second when first baseman Jake Gronsky could not field a pick-off attempt.
Anderson (1-5) then plunked Jason Kanzler to put two aboard. Mitch Garver stepped up and ripped a 1-1 pitch into the left field corner for an RBI double, 1-0. Marcus Knecht then picked up the first of his three doubles on the night with a two-run ground rule shot down the left field line.
Up 3-0 with still no outs, Bryan Haar smacked a single into left and Ryan Walker drove in a fourth Miracle run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The bats struck for two more runs in the bottom of the second off Cardinals reliever Corey Littrell. With one out, Garver lined a single up the middle and then scored from first on Knecht's second double, a arching drive into dead center field. Knecht moved up to third on a base hit from Haar through the right side, then scored on a second Walker sacrifice fly on the evening, 6-0.
Kanzler added a run in the third off Litrell with an opposite field, two-out RBI base hit.
Miracle starter Mat Batts was strong over seven innings and allowed just one run in the top of the fourth. Batts (2-1) only mistake came on a two-out RBI single given up to Gronsky. Striking out a season-high eight, Batts scattered four hits and issued just one walk.
In the fourth, the Miracle sent eight men to the plate and crossed home plate three times. After Knecht led off with a double, but remained at second as Littrell retired the next two hitters. Chad Christensen then hit a high chopper to short and beat out the throw from Juan Herrera for an infield hit. Logan Wade then lifted a 1-0 pitch down the line in left to drive in Knecht and push the Miracle lead to 8-1.
The Cardinals brought in Lee Stoppelman from the bullpen. Vielma poked a single through the right side for an RBI hit and Granite hit a hard ground ball up the middle to drive in the tenth Miracle run of the night, 10-1.
Brian Gilbert tossed a scoreless top of the eighth out of the Miracle pen, but Matt Summers gave up two runs on one hit with two walks and a hit batter before retiring the side.
Winners of five straight games and 11 of the last 13, the Miracle (36-32) host Palm Beach (32-36) on a 2-for-1 Tuesday with buy one, get one general admission tickets, domestic draft beers and hot dogs. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from June 22, 2015
- Pinto Shines in Debut, Threshers Win 4-3 - Clearwater Threshers
- T-Yanks Drop Opener to D-Jays, 5-3 - Tampa Yankees
- Knecht Leads Miracle Offense in 10-3 Victory over Cardinals - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Jorge Ortega Named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week - Brevard County Manatees
- Rain Gives 'Crabs 2-0 Win in Five - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Fernandez, Hammerheads Beat Mets 4-1 - St. Lucie Mets
- Edwin Espinal Named Player of the Week - Bradenton Marauders
- Rain, Crabs Top Bradenton 2-0 - Bradenton Marauders
- Mascot Night Comes To Dunedin - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Roger Dean Stadium and Bank of America Join Together to Strike out Hunger - Palm Beach Cardinals
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