FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Hold Off Marauders, 4-3, To Sweep Series

Published on August 16, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


BRADENTON, FL- In a game that was delayed by rain for nearly two hours prior to the first pitch, the Fort Myers Miracle jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, and then held off a late threat from the host Marauders to earn a 4-3 victory on Monday evening at McKechnie Field, giving them a sweep of this brief two-game series. The Miracle, who have now won three straight games, and four of their last five, find themselves in third place in the Florida State League's South Division, just two-and-one-half games behind the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Fort Myers took the early in the very first inning. Daniel Kihle led off with a single to left off of Bradenton starter Buddy Borden, went to second on a ground out, and scored on Nick Gordon's ground ball single to center to put the visitors ahead 1-0.

The Miracle added to their advantage by scoring two more runs in the third. Kihle again singled to start the rally, and he moved up to second two batters later on a ground out. After Joe Maloney walked, Tanner Witt lined a double down the right field line to score both Kihle and Maloney, and the score was 3-0.

An unearned run in the fifth increased the lead to four. Gordon lined a single to left to start the inning, and then stole second base. Joe Maloney singled to left, and when Bradenton left fielder Jordan Luplow misplayed the grounder for an error, Gordon came in to score to put the Miracle ahead 4-0.

The Marauders finally broke through in their half of the fifth as they snapped the shutout bid of Miracle starter Keaton Steele as Cole Tucker delivered a two-out, two-run single to center field to cut their deficit to 4-2.

The score remained unchanged into the eighth inning when the hosts climbed to within one run on Jordan Luplow's one-out, RBI single that made the score 4-3 after eight innings of play.

The Miracle didn't score in their half of the ninth, but Bradenton looked to start a rally as Pablo Reyes drew a 12-pitch walk off Miracle reliever Nick Anderson to start the frame. Anderson was unfazed, however, as he struck out Tucker swinging and then retired Justin Maffei on a double-play ground ball to end the game and secure the victory, picking up his fifth save of the season in the process.

Steele (6-10) earned the victory for the Miracle as he tossed six strong innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while walking only one and striking out five.

The Miracle (60-59, 26-24) will now travel to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday to open up a series with the St. Lucie Mets. Tuesday's action will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the completion of a suspended game from this past Wednesday evening, when heavy rain in Fort Myers forced the game to be called before the Miracle came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. Following the completion of that game, the two teams will play the regularly-scheduled game, which will be seven innings in length. This series will not be broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com, but fans can listen to the St. Lucie Mets Broadcast Network and the 'Voice of the Mets' Adam MacDonald.

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Florida State League Stories from August 16, 2016


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