FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle six game win streak "grounded" in 4-1 loss to Cardinals

Published on July 23, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL (July 23, 2006) - During their six game winning streak the Fort Myers Miracle scored 49 runs, but on Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium it was a 19-year-old that held the Miracle in check as they lost for the first time in a week 4-1 to the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Cardinal left-hander Jaime Garcia, just 19 years-old and a 20th round pick by the Cardinals last season, was in command for 7.2 innings against the Miracle. He allowed just three base runners through the first seven innings, a walk to Steve Tolleson in the first, a lead off double by Tolleson in the fourth and a walk to Justin Arneson in the fifth. Other than that Garcia kept the ball down and forced the Miracle to hit ground ball after ground ball. He allowed just one fly ball out, David Winfree's fly out to right in the fifth and everything else was either a strike out or ground out. Of the 27 outs recorded on Sunday, 18 were ground ball outs, one fly out and eight strike outs by Cardinals pitchers. Garcia went 7.2 innings allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out five.

The Miracle, who fell to 16-12 in the second half, trailed early. In the second Joe Mather hit his 12th homer of the season, a solo shot off of Kyle Aselton to put the Cardinals up 1-0..

The Cardinals made it 2-0 on the fourth when Juan Lucena walked and moved to second on a single by Ryan Barthelemy. The two moved up on a wild pitch and Lucena scored on an RBI ground out by Matt Pagnozzi.

The Cardinals put it away with a two run sixth when Lucena singled, went to third on a double by Mather and scored on a two run single by Barthelemy. The combination of Lucena-Mather-Barthelemy (three, four and five hitters) went a combined 6-10, three RBI and four runs scored.

The Miracle scored their lone run in the eighth inning when Caleb Moore led off with a single to center, advanced to second on a balk and scored on a double by Brandon Roberts.

The same two teams meet Monday evening at Hammond Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (5-6, 3.82) to the mound against Cardinals RHP Cory Meacham (0-1, 15.75). It is Potts' Sports Café Miracle Monday presented by WJPT 106.3 with a post game flip-flop scramble.

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Florida State League Stories from July 23, 2006


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