FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle get improbable double header split, tied for first with five games to play

Published on June 13, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


CLEARWATER, FL (June 13, 2006) - Pennant races are made up of defining moments and through the course of the season the Fort Myers Miracle have had plenty of them. On Wednesday night at Bright House Networks Field, the Miracle had another one, in game two of their double header with the Clearwater Threshers, coming from a 6-1 deficit to win 9-7. They lost game one 6-4 and are now tied with the Dunedin Blue Jays for first in the Western Division with five games to play. The Miracle do not hold the tie breaker because they lost the season series to the Blue Jays 3-2.

With the Miracle trailing 6-1 in the fourth inning and looking as though they would slip a game out of first, the Miracle began their amazing come back. Kyle Geiger led off the fourth with a single to right. Trevor Plouffe walked and Deacon Burns followed with a single to right that scored Geiger and moved Plouffe to third. Korey Feiner's sac fly made it 6-3. Burns then advanced to second on a passed ball and went to third on Justin Arneson's fly out. Alexi Casilla's infield single scored Burns to make it 6-4. Casilla finished the second game 4-5 with two RBI and a run scored. After Matt Tolbert singled, Garrett Guzman was robbed of a base hit when first baseman Bryan Hansen made a diving play and got Guzman at first to end the inning.

That didn't deter the Miracle who put up a five spot in the fifth. They sent nine men to the plate and with runners at first and second and one out Burns and Feiner had back-to-back RBI doubles to tie the game at six. After a walk to Arneson loaded the bases, Casilla singled to right that scored Burns. Rightfielder J.J. Johnson's relay throw skipped away from the cutoff man and that allowed Feiner to score to make it 8-6. Tolbert's sac fly completed the scoring for the Miracle.

They had to hang on as the Threshers threatened in the sixth. After getting the first out of the inning Chris Schutt walked Brad Harman and Mike Costanzo. He then gave up an RBI single to Brandon Florence, but J.P. Martinez came on to strike out Johnson and after a walk to Bryan Hansen, struck out Peeter Ramos to end the threat. Martinez retired the side in order in the seventh to earn his 10th save of the season.

In game one the Miracle fell behind 3-0 in the third inning when Brian Sellier clubbed his sixth homer of the season, a three run shot off of Danny Powers.

The Miracle didn't waste any time taking the lead. In the fourth inning Kyle Geiger led off with a double to center. With one out Jeremy Pickrel singled him home to make it 3-1. The Miracle loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Deacon Burns and Jose Leger. Alexi Casilla forced in a run when he was hit by a pitch and Matt Tolbert walked with the bases loaded to tie the game at three. Garrett Guzman's RBI ground out put the Miracle on top 4-3.

The lead didn't last long as the Threshers put up three in the bottom of the fourth. Danny Powers walked Bryan Hansen to lead off the inning and followed that by hitting Peeter Ramos. After Matt Thayer sacrificed the runners over, Jose Mijares relieved Powers. He unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Hansen to score and tie the game at four. Mijares got Tuffy Gosewisch on strikes, but gave up an 0-2 RBI single to Brian Burgamy which put the Threshers on top 5-4. After a wild pitch moved Burgamy to second the Miracle intentionally walked Brad Harman and Mike Costanzo followed with an RBI single.

The Miracle head to Ed Smith Stadium for a two game series beginning Wednesday night against the Sarasota Reds at 7:00 p.m. The Miracle send LHP Brian Duensing (0-1, 5.14) to the hill against Reds RHP Jim Paduch (3-2, 2.69).

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Florida State League Stories from June 13, 2006


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