FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Set Attendance Record, Edge Marauders 3-2 on Thursday

Published on August 27, 2015 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 27, 2015) - The Fort Myers Miracle quelled a late surge from the Bradenton Marauders with a 3-2 win on Thursday night in front of 1,416. The crowd helped set a new single season attendance record for the Miracle at 125,422 through 62 openings.

The previous single season record for total attendance was set in 2008 at 124,749. The Miracle started off the season with a single game record 9,209 fans on April 10.

"I can't thank the community enough for their devout and generous support this season," said Miracle General Manager Andrew Seymour. "Special thanks to our owner Jason Hochberg, manager Jeff Smith, his coaching staff and the entire 2015 Miracle team. The effort started last Fall well in advance of game one. Jeff and our aggressive 'fan-first' staff took the ball and ran with it."

The Miracle treated the historic crowd with a thrilling one-run win over the Marauders.

In the bottom of the third, the Miracle opened the scoring by starting the frame with three consecutive singles. Tanner Vavra led off with a sliced single to center off Bradenton starter Frank Duncan. Zack Granite then beat out a drag bunt down the first base line and Engelb Vielma followed with a push bunt hit to third to load the bases.

Aderling Mejia came to the plate and lofted a shallow fly ball to right field. Harold Ramirez made a running catch for the out, but Vavra tagged from third and scored. Ramirez's throw was late, but Vielma tried to advance to second base. Reese McGuire threw from home plate to the second base bag where shortstop Chris Diaz began a rundown with Vielma. At third base, Granite leaned towards home. Diaz's throw back to first sailed to the netting of the Marauder dugout and Granite raced home on the error to put the Miracle up 2-0.

In the fifth, a second sacrifice fly from Mejia scored a third Miracle run. Vielma slapped a single down the third base line to start the frame. Then, with Mejia at the plate, Vielma took off to steal second. The throw from McGuire pulled Diaz to the right side of second base. Vielma slid into Diaz's tag and the ball popped loose, sailing beyond third base and landing in the gravel of the warning track in foul territory. Vielma then scampered to third.

On a 1-2 pitch from Duncan (8-10), Mejia hit a shallow fly ball to left. Vielma tested the arm of Junior Sosa, sliding in between the legs of McGuire safely to give the Miracle a 3-0 advantage.

Miracle starter Ethan Mildren was sharp in his first start in the Florida State League since May 19. Mildren (2-4) went six shutout frames, walked one and struck out three to pick up the win. Jake Reed tossed a scoreless seventh and Zack Jones worked around a pair of hits in the eighth.

Bradenton rattled the cage in the ninth. Trevor Hildenberger entered from the Miracle pen and gave up a lead-off single to Jin-De Jhang. The next pitch from Hildenberger struck Wyatt Mathisen. McGuire then laced a 1-2 pitch through the right side and Jhang scored, 3-1.

Diaz came to the plate and laid down a bunt to execute a squeeze play. Mitch Garver popped out of his catcher's crouch and threw out Diaz at first while Mathisen crossed home. Then, McGuire took off for third base. Vielma tried to beat McGuire to the bag and got tangled up. McGuire went down to the dirt, Vielma caught a lofted throw from Mejia and tagged out McGuire. However, the umpires reversed the play and McGuire was awarded third base on obstruction.

With the tying run at third and one out, Michael Fransoso hit a shallow fly out to left field. Zack Granite made the catch and threw an accurate one-hop toss to home plate. Garver applied a swipe tag on McGuire's attempt at a tag up for the third out and final out of the ninth. Hildenberger was credited with his third save.

The win for the Miracle snapped a five game losing streak.

The series continues at Hammond Stadium on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle (71-60, 33-28) send Mat Batts (7-4) to the hill. The Marauders (67-62, 35-23) counter with Tyler Eppler (6-1). It's a Fill'er Up Friday at the ballpark with an All You Can Eat deal for just $18 that includes your game ticket. The A.Y.C.E. wristband gets you unlimited hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta with marinara sauce, homemade barbecue chips, peanuts and ice cold beverages. The wristband also gets $2 domestic draft beer pricing through the sixth inning. For tickets and information, call (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.

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Florida State League Stories from August 27, 2015


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