FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle falter to B-Mets

July 23, 2008 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, F.L. (July 23, 2008) - An ugly series between the Fort Myers Miracle and St. Lucie Mets finally reaching its boiling point on Wednesday night as a bench-clearing brawl in the 9th inning highlighted a Miracle comeback, before a Mets run in the top of the 11th decided the 3-2 contest. In all, eight players were ejected at Hammond Stadium, four from each side, as the Mets capped off a series winning three in a row.

With the Mets up 2-1 entering the ninth, Mets reliever Emary Frederick hit Juan Portes in the ribs with a fastball that started the bench clearing incident. Portes and Mets reliever Emary Frederick exchanged words, catcher Josh Thole then stepped in, pushing Portes, as both benches emptied.

After the lengthy delay, Danny Santiestiban would become the pinch-runner at first followed by pinch-hitting Garrett Olson. Olson drew a walk, pushing Santiestiban to second, before an RBI-single to left by Eli Tintor and fielding error by Brahiam Maldonado plated Santiestiban with the tying-run. With the game-winning run 90 feet away, Danny Lehmann lined into a double play with the infield drawn in to end the inning.

In the Mets 11th, a one-out walk to Thole put the winning run on board for Luis Rivera. Rivera sent a ground ball to first that Whit Robbins fired to second, only to have Yancarlos Ortiz misplay it, allowing Thole to slide in safely. After a strikeout by D.J. Wabick, Maldonado would pick up the RBI-single to center scoring the difference maker.

St. Lucie got on the board with a couple of runs thanks to groundouts by Ruben Tejada and Shawn Bowman before the Miracle tied it with an RBI-single by Ortiz in the fifth, and Tintor's single in the ninth.

The Miracle will now head to Clearwater to begin a three-game series with the Threshers and the start of a six-game road trip. RHP Deolis Guerra (10-4, 4.42) will start for the Miracle at 7:00 p.m. from Bright House Field. Thursday's game, and the entire series from Clearwater, can be heard on WMYR AM-1410 and WCNZ AM-1660 beginning at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday night.

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Florida State League Stories from July 23, 2008


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