FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle Slam Cubs, 10-1, in Sunday Matinee

Published on May 18, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 18, 2014) - The Fort Myers Miracle blasted the Daytona Cubs, 10-1, in the third of a four-game series at Hammond Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

For a third consecutive game, the Cubs took the lead with a run in the second inning. Miracle starter Brett Lee surrendered a lead-off single to Jeimer Candelario, but then struck out Gioskar Amaya. Lee (4-1) induced a grounder to short by Wilson Contreras, but Jorge Polanco committed a throwing error allowing Contreras to reach second and Candelario to move to third.

Lee fanned Tim Saunders of five pitches, but Marco Hernandez registered a two-out double into left to bring in Candelario, 1-0.

The Miracle answered in the bottom of the second inning, loading the bases on Daytona starter Ben Wells. Travis Harrison reached on a walk, Niko Goodrum singled and Max Kepler earned a free pass off Wells. Adam Brett Walker then looped a base hit into left field to tie the game, 1-1.

Wells then retired Mike Gonzales on a fly out to right, but a wild pitch with Stuart Turner at the dish brought in Goodrum to give the Miracle a 2-1 lead.

Fort Myers added two more runs in the third. Wells again loaded the bases. Jorge Polanco extended his hitting streak to 15 games by beating out a weak dribbler to second base. Wells then issued a base on balls to Dalton Hicks and Harrison. Goodrum then watched four consecutive pitches miss the zone from Wells to force in another run with a RBI walk.

Cubs manager Dave Keller went to the bullpen and brought in reliever Starling Peralta. After getting Kepler and Walker with outs in the air, Peralta hit Gonzales with an 0-2 pitch for force in another run and extend the Miracle lead to 4-1.

In the seventh, the Miracle offense jumped on Cubs reliever Zach Godley. Harrison and Goodrum recorded back-to-back RBI singles to extend Fort Myers' lead to 6-1. A walk to Kepler by Godley loaded the bases for Walker. On a 1-1 pitch, Walker launched a majestic fly ball that landed in the CentruyLink lawn beyond the left field fence for a grand slam, pushing the Miracle advantage to 10-1.

Walker's slam was his second in the last four games. Finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI, Walker has now driven in 11 runs in the last four games and leads the team with seven homers and 31 RBI.

Lee picked up the win after going five innings and striking out a season-high six. In his first start since April 30, Lee gave up one unearned run on four hits and stranded three.

Tyler Jones pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with four punch outs. Steven retired the last five hitters consecutively to close out the victory.

The Miracle (24-18) host the Cubs (14-25) in the series finale on Education Day at 10:35 a.m. on Monday morning. Gates open at 9 a.m. Fans can listen to every pitch on www.miraclebaseball.com with the 'Voice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman. The Head Quarters pregame show begins at 10:10 a.m.

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Florida State League Stories from May 18, 2014


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