FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle stay alive in playoff race with dramatic walk off hit in bottom of ninth

Published on June 19, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL (June 19, 2006) - There are some bizarre ways to win games and then there is what happened to the Fort Myers Miracle on Monday night at Hammond Stadium as they got a pop up single that scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and defeated the Lakeland Tigers 2-1. They are one game back of the Dunedin Blue Jays, who lost 10-4 on Monday to Tampa, with two to play. The Miracle must win the division out right to make the playoffs because they lost the season series 3-2 to the Blue Jays.

With the score tied at one in the bottom of the ninth, the Lakeland Tigers brought in P.J. Finngean, a reliever who was 7-0 on the season. With one out he hit Trevor Plouffe on a two strike pitch. The Miracle went to their bench and Kyle Geiger pinch hit for Korey Feiner. Geiger hit one to third that Wilkin Ramirez nearly threw away trying to force Plouffe at second, but Gilberto Mejia made a nice play to one hop the ball and get the force out. Then Erold Andrus, who had not played since early May because of a thumb injury, hit a high pop up into shallow left. The left fielder Jeff Frazier and the shortstop Brent Dlugach both went after it, but neither one of them caught it as it fell between the two of them. Geiger hustling all the way, rounded third as the ball fell and the relay throw to the plate was on one hop and hit Geiger as he slid across the plate to score the winning run.

Early on things didn't look like they would go the Miracle way. Miracle starter Justin Jones was getting hit around the park, but he never let up the big hit. He scattered 10 hits during his 6.0 innings and the only run he gave up was in the third. Jeff Frazier, the MVP of the All-Star game, ripped a double to right-center. Jeff Larish followed with an RBI double to left that gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Jones went 6.0 innings allowing one run on 10 hits while walking two and striking out six.

The Miracle, who entered play 2-7 against the Tigers improved to 37-31 on the season, were being stymied by Tiger starter Dallas Trahern. He allowed just one hit through five innings, a lead off fly ball single to Brandon Roberts that the home plate umpire ruled center fielder Clete Thomas trapped as he made a diving play on the ball. The Miracle finally broke through in the seventh. Jeremy Pickrel led off with his league leading ninth triple of the season. Luke Hughes followed with an RBI single to left-center that tied the game at one. Trahern's night was done, but the Miracle couldn't score off of Jeff Hahn who retired Hughes at third on Feiner's sacrifice attempt. He got Andrus to ground out and Roberts to strike out. Trahern went 6.0 innings allowing one run on five hits while walking two and striking out three. That just set the stage for the amazing finish as the Miracle stayed alive in the playoff race.

The same two teams meet Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send LHP Brian Duensing (0-2, 3.21) to the hill against Tiger RHP Andrew Kown (2-2, 3.50). The Miracle must win their remaining two games and the Blue Jays must lose their last two for the Miracle to make the playoffs. Tuesday night is Naples Daily News "Two for One Tuesdays" presented by WCKT 100.

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Florida State League Stories from June 19, 2006


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