FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle give up four homers lose 4-3, playoff hopes nearly done

Published on September 1, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


SARASOTA, FL (September 1, 2005) - The Fort Myers Miracle gave up four home runs to the Sarasota Reds on Thursday night at Ed Smith Stadium losing 5-3 and are hanging on by a thread in the playoff race as Dunedin beat Clearwater 10-1 and Lakeland beat Tampa 4-3. If either Dunedin or Lakeland wins one of their final three remaining games or the Miracle lose one of their final three the Miracle are officially eliminated.

The home run parade started in the first. Hector Tiburcio took Jay Rainville over the left-center field wall, a solo shot, for his eighth home run of the season.

The Miracle took the lead in the third when Matt Tolbert, Jake Mauer and Kyle Geiger all singled to load the bases. Mark Zamojc' fielder's choice ground out scored Tolbert to tie it at one. Jose Leger's sac fly scored Mauer and gave the Miracle a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, however, Rainville gave up his second homer of the night. With one out Tiburcio reached on a bunt single and with two outs Ben Himes clubbed one over the right field wall, his ninth of the season, to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Rainville gave up his final homer of the night in the fourth, a solo shot by Jeff Urgelles to lead off the inning, his first of the season. Rainville lasted four innings allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five.

Miracle reliever Jose Mijares was greeted with the same fate in his second inning of relief. After pitching a scoreless fifth, Mijares gave up a solo shot to Mark Schramek in the sixth, his 11th of the season to make it 5-2 Reds.

The Miracle made it 5-3 in the eighth when Leger reached on third baseman Schramek's error. He was balked to second and scored on Brock Peterson's single to center.

Matt Williams, who recently joined the Miracle from the GCL, pitched two scoreless innings in his Miracle debut. Tolbert, Mauer and Geiger all collected two hits with Tolbert extending his hitting streak to nine and Geiger to 13.

The same two teams meet Friday night at Ed Smith Stadium at 7:00 p.m. The Miracle send LHP Justin Jones (6-3, 3.18) to the hill against Reds RHP Johnny Cueto (0-0, 0.00).

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Florida State League Stories from September 1, 2005


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