Landa's Balk Costs Miracle Late in Loss to Jupiter, 4-3
April 20, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 20, 2016) - The Jupiter Hammerheads took advantage of an eighth inning balk from reliever Yorman Landa to edge the Fort Myers Miracle, 4-3, at Hammond Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Brian Anderson led off the eighth with a fly ball into left center that dropped between Logan Wade and Austin Diemer for a triple. After Landa (1-1) got Taylor Ard to ground out to third, but balked during K.J. Woods at-bat. The balk brought in Anderson and broke a 3-3 tie.
Jose Adames tallied a two-inning save for the Hammerheads to cap off a back-and-forth battle. Adames' first save came with the tying run at third base.
The Miracle scored a pair of runs off Hammerheads pitcher Jorgan Cavanerio in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ryan Walker led off with a bunt single and Alex Swim followed with a double down the third base line to put runners at second and third. Nick Gordon then pulled a first pitch from Cavanerio to the right side for an RBI ground out to second base. Walker scored. Trey Vavra then stepped up and doubled down the third base line to plate Swim and put the Miracle up 2-0.
Kohl Stewart started for the Miracle and was cruising through five scoreless innings, but the Hammerheads strung together four consecutive hits with one out in the sixth. Dexter Kjerstad got the rally started with a single lashed into right. Brian Schales followed with a line drive hit up the middle. With runners at first and second, Brian Anderson bounced a hit up the middle off Stewart and plated Kjerstad. After Taylor Ard dropped a bloop hit into left, Miracle manager Jeff Smith removed Stewart and brought in Luke Westphal from the bullpen.
Inhereting a bases loaded scenario, Westphal struggled with his command and threw a wild pitch that allowed the Hammerheads to tie the game and Schales to score. Woods coaxed a walk from Westphal to reload the bases and Brad Haynal drove in a run with a walk as the next batter. The bases loaded free pass put the Hammerheads up 3-2.
In the seventh, the Miracle drew even on a long solo home run from Trey Vavra. On a 3-2 pitch, Vavra uncorked a majestic 388-foot drive to deep left field that landed at the top of the grass hill on the SunHarvest Citrus Lawn. The homer for Vavra was his first in the Florida State League. Vavra finished the night 3-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBI.
The Miracle (8-6) will play the series rubber match with the Hammerheads (5-9) at Hammond Stadium on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Tyler Jay (1-0) will start for the Miracle against Dillon Peters (0-1) for the Hammerheads in a match-up of left-handed starters. Fans can enjoy half priced domestic drafts on a Thirsty Thursday. Gates open at 6 p.m. For tickets, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.
Florida State League Stories from April 20, 2016
- Cardinals Make Marauders Walk the Plank - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Landa's Balk Costs Miracle Late in Loss to Jupiter, 4-3 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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