FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Lose Pitchers Duel to Tigers 3-1

Published on May 5, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL (May 5, 2006) - Fort Myers Miracle starter Kevin Slowey met his match on Friday morning at Hammond Stadium. He and Lakeland Tiger starter Kevin Ardoin locked horns and matched each other pitch for pitch, but in the end it was the Miracle losing to the Tigers 3-1.

Slowey entered the game fourth in the Florida State League in ERA (1.53) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (34). He dominated the Tigers for six innings, but the only run he allowed turned out to be too much. He allowed his first hit with one out in the third when Andrew Graham bunted for a single. He didn't allow another base runner until the sixth. With one out Gilberto Mejia singled to right. Clete Thomas followed with a line drive single off the glove of first baseman Brock Peterson that sent Mejia to third. Jeff Frazier's sacrifice fly was the only blemish for Slowey on the day. He went 6.0 innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out a career high tying 10.

The Miracle, who dropped to 16-12, couldn't do much against Ardoin. He threw just 65 pitches in 7.2 innings, 52 for strikes. He didn't allow a runner to second until the eighth inning when, with his team leading 3-0, he gave up a one out single to Deacon Burn and a two out RBI double to Alexi Casilla. Ardoin went 7.2 innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out six.

The Miracle had a chance to win it in the ninth. They loaded the bases off of Tiger closer Kevin Whelan on a lead off walk to Garrett Guzman, a one out single to right center by Jeremy Pickrel and a two out walk to Luke Hughes. Burns hit a shot to right field, but Victor Mendez made a running catch on the warning track to end the game.

The Tigers scored their insurance runs in the seventh off of Miracle reliever JP Martinez. Jeff Larish led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Wilkin Ramirez' ground ball moved him to third and a suicide squeeze by Brent Dlugach scored Larish. Jim Essian then hit his first home run of the season to make it 3-0.

The Miracle now head out on the road for a four game series against the St. Lucie Mets beginning Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. at Tradition Field. The Miracle send LHP Kyle Aselton (1-1, 3.24).

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Florida State League Stories from May 5, 2006


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