Miracle Can't Tame Tigers Lose 4-2
June 9, 2006 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
LAKELAND, FL - If the Fort Myers Miracle don't win the first half Western Division title they can thank the Lakeland Tigers. For the seventh time in nine meetings the Miracle lost to the Tigers this time 4-2 on Friday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. By virtue of the Dunedin Blue Jays 2-1 loss to the Tampa Yankees the Miracle remain tied for first with nine games to go, but the Tigers are now just one and a half games back.
Brian Duensing, making his first appearance with the Miracle since being called up from Single-A Beloit, looked like a battled tested veteran. His final numbers weren't indicative of how well he pitched. With the Miracle leading 2-0 in the fifth, Duensing, who had allowed just one hit up to that point, gave up an infield single to Wilkin Ramirez with one out. Clete Thomas followed with a single to right and Brent Dlugach ripped an RBI double to right that made it 2-1. Chris Robinson, one of the All-Star catchers for the west, hit a sac fly to tie the game at two.
In the seventh, with Duensing still on the mound, Robinson came calling again. After Duensing struck out the first two hitters he faced, he gave up a lined single to Dlugach. Robinson then hit a fly ball to right that kept carrying. Deacon Burns lept in the air, but the ball went just over his glove and barely cleared the wall for a two run homer, his first of the season and the deciding hit of the game. Duensing went 7.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out seven.
The Miracle, who fell to 34-27, got on the board in the first inning when Alexi Casilla reached on an infield single. He stole second, one of three on the night a Miracle single season high, and scored on an RBI double by Brock Peterson, who extended his hitting streak to eight games. He went 2-3 with a double, triple and an RBI.
The Miracle took a 2-0 lead in the fifth when Korey Feiner walked, went to third on a ground rule double by Burns and scored on a fielders choice by Casilla.
The Miracle managed just three base runners from the sixth inning on: a walk to Peterson in the sixth, who was erased on a double play, a two out infield single by Luke Hughes in the sixth and a two out triple by Peterson in the eighth.
The same two teams meet Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (3-3. 3.98) to the hill against Tigers RHP and All-Star Jair Jurrjens (5-0, 2.01).
Florida State League Stories from June 9, 2006
- Dodgers Fail to Hold Late Lead - Vero Beach Devil Rays
- Eighth Inning Keys Palm Beach Victory - Palm Beach Cardinals
- Miracle Can't Tame Tigers Lose 4-2 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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