FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Robbed of a Victory in 1-0 Loss to Reds

Published on July 8, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL (July 8, 2006) - Not once, but twice the Fort Myers Miracle were flat out robbed. The Sarasota Reds stole two home runs from the Miracle in one inning and used a long ball of their own in the next, as the Miracle lost 1-0 to the Reds on Saturday night at Hammond Stadium.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the seventh Steve Tolleson led off for the Miracle. He hit a high fly ball to left that hung up in the air and allowed Reds left fielder Jay Garthwaite to go back and leap in the air and snag the ball from going over the fence. After Kyle Geiger flew out to center, Deacon Burns hit a laser that looked like it was going to clear the right field wall, but Cody Straight raced back, leaped and performed his own version of thievery, taking a home run away from Burns.

As if that wasn't cruel enough, the first batter in the next inning for the Reds, Drew Anderson, drove a ball to right field off of Miracle reliever Chris Schutt. Burns leapt in the air for, but the 5'8 right fielder, couldn't quite get high enough and Anderson had his fourth homer of the season and all the scoring in the game.

The Miracle nearly tied it in the bottom of the ninth. David Winfree led off with a frozen rope to left that missed clearing the wall by just a couple of feet, instead hitting the top of the wall that went for a double. The Miracle couldn't score the run, however, as Brock Peterson grounded out to short, Tolleson struck out and Kyle Geiger grounded out to second to end the game.

Pitching was obviously a big part of Saturday night's game with Reds starter Sam Lecure going 5.0 shutout innings allowing four hits while walking two and striking out six. Miracle reliever Jose Mijares was just as impressive going 4.0 innings of shutout ball allowing three hits while walking two and striking out nine, including the side in the third and sixth.

The Miracle offense never had a man as far as third and were blanked 1-0 for the third time this season.

The same two teams meet Sunday afternoon for a double header beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (4-5, 4.40) to the hill in game one against Reds RHP James Avery (4-5, 5.31). In game two the Miracle go with RHP Josh Hill (5-2, 5.79) against Reds RHP Jim Paduch (4-4, 4.83).

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Florida State League Stories from July 8, 2006


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