Miracle Rally for Four-Run Ninth to Walk-Off, 9-8
Published on May 21, 2016 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Logan Wade capped off a four-run last inning comeback for the Fort Myers Miracle with a game-winning walk-off RBI single to shock the Tampa Yankees, 9-8, at Hammond Stadium in front of 4,391 fans.
Trailing 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Trey Vavra led off for the Miracle by coaxing a walk out of Tampa reliever Jordan Foley. Chris Paul then went down on strikes for the first out, but Max Murphy followed with a base hit up the middle and Vavra moved up to second base. Foley issued his second walk of the inning to Alex Real to load the bases. Chad Christensen then pinch ran for Real at first base.
Tampa manager Patrick Osborn went to Travis Hissong out of the Yankees bullpen to face Edgar Corcino. On a 2-2 pitch, Corcino roped a two-run single into right field to slice the Tampa lead to one run. Vavra and Murphy scored on the Corcino hit while Christensen advanced to third. With runners at first and third, Kevin Garcia, a late inning replacement, slapped a slow roller towards Yankees shortstop Jorge Mateo. Moving to his right, Mateo had the ball bounce off his outstretched glove while Christensen raced home to tie the game, 8-8. Garcia was credited with an RBI single.
Wade made his way to the plate with Garcia at first and Corcino at second. After working a 2-2 count, Garcia lined a base hit into center field. Corcino raced around third base and dove head first into home plate before Michael O'Neill's throw from center field. Wade was mobbed by his teammates as the Miracle celebrated a four-run, come from behind victory in walk-off fashion.
The late inning comeback capped off a three hour, 30-minute second game of the series that featured multiple ties and lead changes. The Yankees began the game by pushing a run across in the first against Miracle starter Stephen Gonsalves. With one out, Abiatal Avelino tripled into right field and trotted home on an RBI ground out from Billy Fleming, 1-0.
The Miracle jumped in front in the second when Real launched a three-run homer. After Paul and Murphy reached on back-to-back singles, Real sent a majestic drive 377 feet over the wall in left field off Tampa starter Will Carter to give the Miracle a 3-1 edge. The home run was Real's fifth of the season and marked his third consecutive game clearing the fence.
Tampa answered back in the top of the third. Vicente Conde reached on a lead-off walk, then Mateo tripled over Paul's head in left to score Conde. A Gonsalves wild pitch then allowed Mateo to score and tied the game, 3-3.
For a second time, the Miracle regained the advantage in the fifth. On an MLB rehabilitation stint from the Minnesota Twins, Eduardo Escobar picked up a one-out single that signaled Carter's exit from the game. Joey Maher entered from the bullpen and struck out Vavra, but Paul stroked a triple to deep center field and Escober scored from first base. The Miracle led 4-3, but Tampa returned fire in the sixth and seventh innings.
In the sixth, Fleming's lead-off double chased Gonsalves and Yorman Landa took over from the Miracle pen. Landa surrendered a single from Bo Thompson that put two Tampa base runners at the corners. Zack Zehner then hit into a force play with a ground ball to short. Zehner was safe at first and Fleming scored to even the score, 4-4.
The Yankees took advantage of two Miracle errors in the seventh to build a three-run lead off Landa. Francisco Diaz started the inning with a single up the middle. Conde laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Landa's throw to first sailed into foul territory and the Yankees advanced Diaz to third and Conde to second. After Mateo grounded out to first, Avelino hit a chopper to third base. Diaz initially did not break for home, but Nick Gordon's throw was wild to first and Diaz was able to advance and give the Yankees the lead.
Tampa still had runners at second and third when Bo Thompson tallied a two-out, two-run single into center field, 7-4.
The Miracle and Yankees traded runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Brian Navarreto picked up an RBI single in the eighth, but Tampa responded on a Fleming run-scoring double off the wall in left in the ninth.
Fort Myers totaled a season-high 17 hits in the comeback win with seven members of the lineup recording multi-hit nights.
The Miracle (24-19) have evened the series with the Yankees (26-17) and return to Hammond Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Fans can pick up complimentary general admission tickets at local Dairy Queen restaurants in Lee and Collier counties. Gates open at 3 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from May 21, 2016
- Herget Holds in Ninth - Daytona Tortugas
- Late Surge Not Enough in 9-6 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Herget Holds in Ninth - Daytona Tortugas
- Miracle Rally for Four-Run Ninth to Walk-Off, 9-8 - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Mets Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Daytona - St. Lucie Mets
- Marauders lose Game 2 - Bradenton Marauders
- Rowley Ambushes Marauders in 3-1 Victory - Dunedin Blue Jays
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