FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Lose Lead Late, Fall Short 3-2 to Tigers

Published on April 20, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


LAKELAND, FL (April 20, 2006) - This one was hard to swallow for the Fort Myers Miracle. They gave up three runs in the eighth inning without the aide of a hit and left the bases loaded in the ninth losing 3-2 to the Lakeland Tigers on Thursday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

With the score 1-0 in the eighth Brent Dlugach reached when Trevor Plouffe's throw pulled first baseman Brock Peterson off the bag. Victor Mendez then hit a grounder to third, but Dlugach was going on the pitch and Leger's only play was to first. Ryan Callahan then walked Chris Robinson that put runners at first and second. Callahan looked as though he struck out Clete Thomas on two pitches, a 1-2 fastball and a 3-2 fastball, but both pitches were called balls by the home plate umpire and the Tigers had the bases loaded and one out. Julio DePaula came into the game and got Gilberto Mejia to hit a hot smash to first, which Peterson made a great diving play on, but his throw to the plate, from his knees, went wide and it allowed two runs to score. Jeff Frazier drove in the final run on a sacrifice fly.

The Miracle made a game of it in the ninth. Off of Tiger closer Jeff Whelan, who hadn't given up a hit in his first five appearances of the season, Alexi Casilla led off with a single to center. He moved to second on a wild pitch and with two outs Brock Peterson brought him home with a single to center. Deacon Burns and Kyle Geiger both walked to load the bases. Jeremy Pickrel, who finished the night 2-4 with a triple and run scored, worked the count full, but flew out to left to end the game.

Miracle starter Kylse Aselton was superb. He hurled 6.0 shutout innings allowing four hits while walking one and striking out six. He allowed just one runner as far as second and that occurred in the sixth inning.

Tiger starter Jair Jurrjens was just as sharp. He gave up a lead off triple to Jeremy Pickrel in the third and Jose Leger brought him home with a ground out. Jurrjens went 7.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out three.

The Miracle wasted two opportunities to extend their lead. In the fourth with runners at the corners and one out, Burns grounded into a double play. In the eighth with runners at first and second and nobody out Leger failed to get two sacrifice bunts down and then grounded into a double play.

The same two teams meet Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Miracle send LHP John Thomas (1-0, 0.93) to the hill against Tiger RHP Josh Rainwater (0-1, 1.64).

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Florida State League Stories from April 20, 2006


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