Matz Stuns Miracle in 6-1 St. Lucie Win
Published on April 17, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 17, 2014) - St. Lucie starter Steven Matz pitched seven scoreless innings against the Fort Myers Miracle en route to a 6-1 Mets win at Hammond Stadium on Thursday night.
Matz (1-1) retired the first 11 Miracle hitters consecutively before allowing a walk to Dalton Hicks in the fourth. Of the 21 outs recorded by Matz, only four were in the air with six strikeouts and 11 were ground balls. Carrying a no-hitter with two outs in the sixth, Levi Michael laid down a bunt single for Fort Myers' first hit.
Miracle starter Brett Lee was nearly as sharp as Matz. In his third start of the season, Lee (1-1) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. After five shutout frames, the Mets finally touched up Lee in the sixth.
Brandon Nimmo led off with a walk. After Lee got T.J. Rivera to fly out to right field, Brandon Allen singled through the left side to put runners at first and second. Aderlin Rodriguez advanced the runners with a ground ball to first base. With two outs, Mets early season clutch hitter Cam Maron chopped a base hit through the left side of the infield to score Nimmo and Allen, 2-0.
In the seventh, the Mets added two more runs against Miracle reliever Tim Shibuya. St. Lucie scored twice off five hits including a RBI base hit by Rivera and a bases loaded hit batter of Rodriguez.
St. Lucie would finish offensively with another two-run inning in the eighth off Madison Boer including a sacrifice fly by Mets lead-off hitter Dilson Herrera to push the lead to 6-0.
The Miracle put up one run in the eighth. Stuart Turner doubled down the right field line and Niko Goodrum followed with a single that bounced through the right side and scored Turner.
Lee got the loss despite notching a quality start. In six innings, Lee gave up two runs on three hits with one walk and a strikeout. The Fort Myers offense has only six hits in the last 18 innings against the St. Lucie pitching staff.
The Miracle (8-6) will host St. Lucie (8-6) for the second of a three-game series on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the first Fill'er Up Friday of the season. For $16, fans get a general admission ticket and an All You Can Eat wristband for hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, chips and ice cold beverages. The All You Can Eat wristband also includes $2 pricing on beer through the sixth inning. For tickets, call (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.
Florida State League Stories from April 17, 2014
- Matz Dominates Miracle, Mets Win 6-1 - St. Lucie Mets
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- Matz Stuns Miracle in 6-1 St. Lucie Win - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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