Turner Lifts Miracle to 7-4 Win with Four-Hit, Four-RBI Night
Published on August 26, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
BRADENTON, Fla. (August 26, 2014) - Stuart Turner went 4-for-4 and drove in four runs in a 7-4 win for the Fort Myers Miracle over the Bradenton Marauders at McKechnie Field on Tuesday evening.
With the game tied 4-4 into the eighth inning, a series of dramatic events unfolded for the Miracle. Facing Marauders reliever Ryan Hafner, Jason Kanzler reached base on a one out infield chopper to third base. Niko Goodrum followed with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Max Kepler then delivered the decisive hit by skimming a ground ball up the middle to score Kanzler and put the Miracle up 5-4.
After quelling a two-run rally from the Marauders in the seventh that tied the game, Miracle reliever Nick Burdi remained on the mound in the eighth with a one-run lead. Burdi walked the lead-off man, Jose Osuna, and then threw two wild pitches that put the tying run at third base. Jordan Sterenka then lifted a fly ball into medium range center field. Kanzler caught the ball and Osuna broke from third. Kanzler's throw bounced once in the grass, but found Turner's mitt at home plate in time to apply the tag to Osuna's left thigh for the second out of the inning. Burdi then struck out Justin Maffei to end the eighth.
Turner delivered the devastating blow in a two-run Miracle ninth inning with his fourth hit and third double of the game. Adam Brett Walker started the frame with a single into center and moved to second on a throwing error by Hafner (2-6). Turner then drilled an 0-2 pitch into center to score Walker and add an insurance run. Tyler Grimes then sacrificed Turner to third. Bryan Haar coaxed a walk to put runners at the corners. Kanzler followed with an RBI single into center to put the Miracle up 7-4.
Zack Jones entered in the ninth out of the Fort Myers pen. Jones fanned two in a scoreless ninth to earn his third save. Burdi (1-0) got the win with 1.1 innings with a walk and a strikeout.
The Miracle jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Marauders starter Chad Kuhl in the first inning. Travis Harrison sparked a two-out rally with a base hit up the middle and advanced to third on a single through the left side by Dalton Hicks. Walker then drilled a double into the left field corner to score Harrison. Turner followed with a double into right field to bring in Hicks and Walker.
Bradenton picked up a pair of runs off Miracle starter Steven Gruver in the second. Jacob Stalling laced a double into the left field corner with two aboard to drive in a pair and cut the Miracle lead to 3-2.
Gruver went five innings in a no decision with two runs allowed on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
In the fifth, the Miracle picked up a fourth run on Turner's second double. Kepler started the inning with a single into right and then went from first to third two batters later on a base hit from Hicks. After Kuhl struck out Walker, Turner ripped a line drive into the corner in left to plate Kepler and put the Miracle up by two.
After a scoreless frame by Alex Muren relieving Gruver in the sixth, D.J. Johnson surrendered two runs in the seventh. Stalling struck again for a RBI single and Adam Frazier tied the game briefly with a RBI double into left. Burdi recorded the final out after taking over for Johnson.
The Miracle (79-55, 38-27) will finish the regular season series with the Marauders (73-61, 38-27) on Wednesday in a rubber match. First pitch is set at 6:30 p.m. and fans can listen to every pitch with the "ËVoice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman. Log on to www.miraclebaseball.com for the Head Quarters pregame show beginning at 6:05 p.m.
Florida State League Stories from August 26, 2014
- Mets Rally Past Crabs for 5-2 Win - St. Lucie Mets
- T-Yanks Stay Hot with 4-1 Win over Threshers - Tampa Yankees
- Turner Lifts Miracle to 7-4 Win with Four-Hit, Four-RBI Night - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Keefer Boosts Sharks to Doubleheader Split - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Leiter's Strong Start Not Enough in 4-1 Loss - Clearwater Threshers
- Mets' Maron Selected to 2014 FSL All Star Team - St. Lucie Mets
- Rosa, Moran and Tilson Named to FSL Post-Season All-Star Team - Jupiter Hammerheads
- Manager of the Year Omar Malavé Highlights Dunedin Blue Jays' FSL All-Star Honors - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tyler Wagner, Nathan Orf Named FSL Post-Season All-Stars - Brevard County Manatees
- Jake Cave Selected to the FSL Post-Season All-Star Team - Tampa Yankees
- Florida State League Names End of Season All-Star Team - FSL1
- Marauders Sweep FSL Player and Pitcher of the Year Awards - Bradenton Marauders
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