FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle split doubleheader

August 27, 2008 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, F.L. (August 27, 2008) - Lakeland pitchers Rick Porcello and Jay Sborz combined on a four-hit, 1-0 shutout win in game one while a five-run first inning in game two propelled the Fort Myers Miracle in the nightcap as the Miracle and Flying Tigers split their Florida State League doubleheader on Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium.

GAME ONE: LAKELAND 1, MIRACLE 0

The Flying Tigers played a little small ball in the third inning of game one to earn the 1-0 victory. Jeramy Laster led off with a single to center, moved to second on Brandon Timm's sacrifice-bunt, and scored on Jeff Kunkel's RBI-double down the left-field line. The Miracle, who were shutout for the 10th time this season in the opener, had a couple of quality opportunities to get the tying-run across.

In the fifth, a lead off double by Edward Ovalle and fielding error by Timm in right, put Ovalle at third with nobody out. Unfortunately for the Miracle, Ovalle was stranded at third when the inning came to an end. In the seventh, a lead-off walk to Wilson Ramos would turn sour as he was stranded at the third as game one came to an end.

Porcello took the win for Lakeland tossing six innings of three-hit ball. Sborz worked around the seventh inning walk and another base hit by Whit Robbins to earn his seventh save of the year.

GAME TWO: MIRACLE 8, LAKELAND 2

After being blanked on a four-hitter in game one, the Miracle made sure the story turned out to be completely different in game two. Five-straight hits began the early attack starting with Steve Singleton's single up the middle. Ovalle singled through the left-side on a hit-and-run, before Whit Robbins delivered with a two-run double to right.

Ramos came through a couple pitches later with a run-scoring single to center while Woodard scored Ramos with an RBI-double to the gap in left-center. Yancarlos Ortiz rounded out the inning by beating the relay throw to first, grabbing an RBI, as Woodard raced in from third.

Lakeland got on the board thanks to outfield miscommunication by the Miracle a half-inning later. Jordan Lennerton led off with what appeared to be a routine fly ball to left. As Garrett Olson went back for the catch, Ovalle came over from center, causing the miscommunication and Lennerton to reach with the double. Two-hitters later, Laster delivered his sacrifice-fly to right to put Lakeland on the board at 5-1.

Three more Miracle runs in the fourth, thanks to three extra-base hits, gave the Miracle their final total of eight for the nightcap. Ortiz led off with a triple to left and scored on Singleton's double to right. Singleton then raced home on Ovalle's three-base hit to left, before Robbins' sac-fly capped the inning.

Lakeland's final run of the night came around in the eighth as Justice's lead-off walk paid off on Louis Ott's eventual groundout to first. Matt Williams scored the win for the Miracle in the nightcap tossing five innings, allowing one run on three hits, fanning five, leveling his mark at 2-2.

The Miracle and Flying Tigers will now meet on Thursday night in the 18-game, season-series finale. Thursday's first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with the final "Thursty Thursday" taking place featuring half-price beer all night long. Also, post-game Thursday features the return of Midget Wrestling! All of the action can be heard live on WMYR AM-1410 and WCNZ AM-1660 beginning at 6:50 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from August 27, 2008


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