FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Fall Short of Sweeping Double Header

Published on May 26, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


VERO BEACH, FL (May 26, 2005) – The Fort Myers Miracle came up short of sweeping a double header against the Vero Beach Dodgers Thursday night at Holman Stadium, winning game one 7-3 and losing game two 1-0.

Nick Blackburn fell one out shy of a complete game in the first half of the double dip. He got the first two men out in the seventh, but gave up a double to Russell Mitchell. Tony Abreu then hit a grounder that went through the legs of Miracle first baseman Brock Peterson that allowed Mitchell to score. Blackburn was removed after Chin-Lung Hu reached on an infield single. Blackburn went 6.2 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits while walking one and striking out four. Jay Sawatski earned his fifth save by getting Andy Laroche to foul out to first to end the game.

The Miracle scored three runs in the third inning on three Dodger errors. With one out Trent Oeltjen walked. Denard Span followed with a single to extend his hit streak to 12 games. JR Taylor then hit a grounder to first, but pitcher Justin Orenduff missed the bag while covering first. With the bases loaded Matt Moses hit a grounder to Mitchell at first. His throw to second pulled the shortstop Hu off the bag and the relay throw to first went off Orenduff's glove and that allowed two runs to score. Kyle Phillips' ground out got the third run home.

The Dodgers got two in the bottom of the third on an RBI infield single by Mitchell and a bloop single by Hu.

The Miracle added four insurance runs in the seventh when they sent 10 men to the plate. Span's fielders choice scored the first run and Phillips' sacrifice fly scored the second. Ben Pattee reached on Laroche's fielding error that enabled the third run to score and the Miracle scored their final run on an RBI single by Felix Molina.

In game two, the Miracle trailed 1-0 in the seventh inning. Span came off the bench to pinch hit and lead off the seventh. With his 12 game hit streak on the line, he promptly lined a 3-2 pitch into center field, to extend his streak to 13. Matt Tolbert followed with a single to right to put runners at first and third and nobody out. That would be as close as the Miracle got to scoring a run. Ron Perodin struck out. JR Taylor came off the bench to pinch hit a little looper that second baseman Dominique Laurin reached up and snagged just before it went over his glove. Scott Whitrock then struck out the end the game.

The Miracle had an opportunity in the sixth inning when, with two outs, Matt Moses singled to left-center. Kyle Geiger followed with an infield single to put runners at first and second. Ben Pattee walked to load the bases, but Brock Peterson struck out to end the inning.

Miracle starter Glen Perkins tossed a complete game, but got the loss. He allowed one run, a solo homer to Andy Laroche, his 19th of the season and sixth in seven games, in the fourth inning. Perkins gave up five hits walked one and struck out seven.

The Miracle return home for a four game series against the Brevard County Manatees beginning Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send LHP Errol Simonitsch (4-2, 3.33) to the hill.

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Florida State League Stories from May 26, 2005


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