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FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Two homers help Miracle to victory in playoff opener

September 8, 2009 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE -- A three-run homer from an unlikely batter helped carry the Fort Myers Miracle to an 8-7 victory over the Charlotte Stone Crabs in Game 1 of the Florida State League South Division Championship Series.

Infielder Estarlin de Los Santos, who had hit just one home run all season and has four home runs in a four-year minor league career, launched a three-run bomb deep to right field in the fifth inning that made the score 6-2. Fort Myers would not relinquish the lead again. The Dominican-born middle infielder, who started at second base and hit second in manager Jeff Smith's order, went into a home run trot as the ball struck the awning on a building behind both the right field bullpen and a party deck structure at Charlotte Sports Park. He finished 3-for-5 with a double, triple, home run, and four runs batted in.

The Stone Crabs had pulled ahead in the fourth, 2-1, but Joe Benson led off the top of the fifth with a solo homer to left to tie the game right back up. Five runs would cross the plate for the guests in the frame, with one coming in on a throwing error by Stone Crab shortstop Matt Hall.

Charlotte made it 6-3 in the bottom half and the Miracle quickly replied with two more in the sixth on a bizarre hop that eluded third baseman Greg Sexton. It seemed ticketed for the final out of the inning, but instead, de Los Santos' grounder jumped past him to bring in two runs as left fielder Henry Wrigley fired the ball into the screen on a would-be play at the plate.

But the Stone Crabs refused to quit and plated four in the bottom half, all with two outs. After six innings it was 8-7 but neither team would score again as the Miracle bullpen held firm with Steve Hirschfeld and Joe Testa.

David Bromberg (1-0) wasn't at his best but still recorded the victory with seven earned on 10 hits in five and two-thirds. He walked four and struck out four. Steve Hirschfeld went two and one-third, giving up a couple hits to bring in runners charged to Bromberg, but locked it down from then on. He gave up three hits total and struck out one.

Testa recorded a save in the ninth, stranding the potential tying run at second.

Jeremy Hall (0-1) took the loss, giving up five earned and six total on five hits in his four and one-third innings. He walked three, struck out one, and surrendered both Miracle home runs.

The two teams combined for 25 hits, mostly in the middle three innings, when 14 runs were scored.

The Miracle came up short in four games to the Daytona Cubs in the 2008 championship series. With Tuesday's win, the team takes a 1-0 lead in a three-game series with Game 2 set to begin on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Alex Cobb will oppose Tyler Robertson.

Meanwhile, in the North Division Championship Series, the Tampa Yankees took a one-game lead over the Brevard County Manatees with a 11-5 victory at Steinbrenner Field.

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