FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Even Series in Lakeland with 9-7 Win

Published on July 20, 2012 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


LAKELAND, Fla. - The Fort Myers Miracle held on to win a 9-7 slugfest with the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Friday night at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle jumped on Flying Tigers' starter Brian Stroud in the second inning. Sending eight to the plate, Fort Myers scored four runs on four hits to take control of the game early.

Josmil Pinto led off with a single and a balk from Stroud (1-3) advanced the Miracle catcher to second. After a Lance Ray flyout, Danny Rams laced a double into right center field to plate Pinto and give Fort Myers a 1-0 advantage.

The next hitter, Jhon Goncalves would hit into a fielder's choice retiring Rams, but would steal second base. Andy Leer then earned a walk and Angel Morales launched a triple into center to score two runs. Daniel Santana followed with an RBI single to plate Fort Myers' fourth run of the inning.

The Miracle added two more in the third inning. Kyle Knudson started the inning with a double into right center followed by another single from Pinto. Lance Ray then lined a 1-1 pitch from Stroud into right field to score Knudson. A walk issued to Rams would load the bases and Goncalves delivered a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 6-0.

Starter Matt Hauser allowed a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but the Fort Myers would answer with three runs in the sixth. Levi Michael re-ignited the offense with a one out walk and then stole second. After Knudson struck out, Pinto earned his fourth hit of the evening with a triple into right center field scoring Michael off Flying Tigers' reliever Guido Knudson.

Pinto finished his evening 4-for-5 with three singles, a triple, two runs scored and a run batted in.

The next pitch from Knudson to Ray was deposited over the fence in right for a two-run blast that extended the Miracle lead to 9-2. The homerun was Ray's 10th of the season.

Lakeland would pull to a four-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth when James Robbins hit a three-run homer off reliever Nelvin Fuentes. Hauser (3-2) gave way to Fuentes with two base-runners after 5.1 innings.

Fuentes pitched a scoreless seventh and A.J. Achter gave up two runs in the ninth inning after a perfect eight.

The Miracle (41-55, 13-16) play the third of a four-game set with Lakeland (51-40, 15-11) on Saturday at 6 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from July 20, 2012


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