Offense Paces Miracle in Twin Bill Sweep of Marauders

July 7, 2016 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Fort Myers Miracle completed a two-game sweep of the Bradenton Marauders with a pair of wins on Thursday evening at Hammond Stadium.

The first game of the evening was resumed from June 26 after play was suspended. Rains caused a lengthy delay in a game that was paused in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out. The Miracle held a 4-0 lead.

The Miracle tallied the first run of when Edgar Corcino blasted a solo home run to open the scoring in the second inning. On a 2-0 pitch from Marauders starter Austin Coley, Corcino launched a 363-foot rocket into the drink rails in right field, 1-0.

In the third, the Miracle tagged Coley for three more runs. With two outs and nobody on base, T.J. White sent a line drive 407 feet over the wall in right center field for a solo blast. After Nick Gordon singled through the left side, Niko Goodrum unloaded on a 2-0 pitch to send a ball 360-feet beyond the fence in right field, 4-0.

Play resumed at 6:05 p.m. on Thursday and Coley (9-7) returned to his role on the mound. The Miracle added a run in the seventh. Tanner Witt led off with a single up the middle and scored on a Brian Navarreto double into left center field, 5-0.

Luke Bard entered the game out of the Miracle bullpen to take over for Randy Rosario, the game two starter on Thursday. Bard (2-1) went two scoreless frames with one hit and one strikeout while being awarded the win. Brandon Peterson and Todd Van Steensel closed out the 13th staff shutout this season. Peterson tossed two innings and Van Steensel finished the ninth.

In game two, the Miracle scored a run in the first inning of Marauders starter Tanner Anderson. White led off with a single into right center then advanced to second on a throwing error by Anderson (0-0) on a pick-off attempt. Gordon then grounded out to the right side and White advanced to third. LaMonte Wade slapped a 2-2 pitch from Anderson down the third base line for an RBI double and a 1-0 Miracle lead.

The Miracle lead swelled in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sending nine men to the plate, Fort Myers drove in three runs. Gordon led off with a hit up the middle then Maloney dropped a single into center. A.J. Murray then pounded a ground ball up the middle to score Gordon. Alex Perez continued the frame by laying down a sacrifice bunt to put Maloney at third and Murray at second.

With the infield drawn-in, Tanner Witt looped a single into shallow center to score Maloney. Daniel Kihle followed with an RBI line drive knock into left. Murray crossed home to extend the Miracle advantage to 4-0.

The offense posted four more runs on five hits in the sixth. Kihle earned his second RBI of the night with a double while White and Gordon picked up RBI hits. Maloney also drove in a run with a bases loaded walk.

Oddly, Rosario (5-5) was credited with starting both games completed on Thursday, but evened his record. Over 6.1 innings, Rosario surrendered three runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. John Curtiss recorded the final two outs in the seventh.

All three Marauder runs were scored in the top of the seventh.

The Miracle (45-39, 11-4) now open a four-game series with the Dunedin Blue Jays (44-40, 11-4) on Friday night. Randy LeBlanc (2-2) is set to start for Fort Myers against Sean Reid-Foley (3-0) for Dunedin. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m. for the Dog Daze of Summer. Fans can bring their four-legged friends to the ballpark and puppies are free to roam a concourse filled with treats and goodies. For tickets, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.

Florida State League Stories from July 7, 2016

• Keep the Line Moving, Jays Win with 15 Hits - Dunedin Blue Jays
• Tortugas Score...A Lot - Daytona Tortugas
• Cornelius Homers in Debut as T-Yanks Beat - Tampa Yankees
• Offense Paces Miracle in Twin Bill Sweep of Marauders - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
• Sandberg Smacks 3 Hits in Loss - Clearwater Threshers
• Biondi's Big Hit Leads Mets to 8-5 Win at Jupiter - St. Lucie Mets
• Pearce Out-Duels Garvin, Cards Down Crabs - Charlotte Stone Crabs

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