Vero Beach uses extra runners for 9-7 win

Published on August 8, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


(Ft. Myers, FL) - Perhaps it was the full moon or maybe just Christmas in August for the Vero Beach Dodgers who used five unearned runs to knock off Ft. Myers 9-7 Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium. All five unearned runs scored in a 7-run fifth inning to lift the Dodgers to their second straight win. The series continues Wednesday at 7:05 PM in Ft. Myers.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead into the decisive fifth inning. Ryder Mathias began his three-hit night with a leadoff double and advanced to third on Jamie Hoffmann's bunt. Eloy Gutierrez then grounded out against a drawn-in infield for the second out with still no runs. However, David Nicholson and Shane Justis drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and knock out starter Colby Miller (3-4).

Ryan Callahan relieved Miller only to issue back-to-back run-scoring walks to Cory Dunlap and Drew Locke. That made it 4-1, but the Dodgers were just getting started. Xavier Paul grounded a ball to first base that was thrown away to score two runners. Russ Mitchell then bounced a ball to third that was also thrown wildly and scored two more runs. The Mathias, who began the inning with a double, singled in Mitchell for a 9-1 advantage.

Ft. Myers made a valiant comeback attempt. Brock Peterson's three-run homer in the sixth inning capped a four-run frame to pull within 9-5. They picked up another run in the eighth, but left the bases loaded. Caleb Moore scored on a wild pitch in the ninth and the Miracle brought the tying run to the plate before Kyle Wilson coaxed Peterson into a game-ending ground out that earned Wilson his 9th save. Drew Locke drilled a towering home run to left in the fourth inning to give Vero their first lead at 2-1. The dinger brought in Cory Dunlap, who had drawn his first of three walks. Dunlap has walked 73 times in 75 games this year and entered as the league-leader in on-base percentage (.424). He was recently tabbed by Baseball America as possessing the best strike-zone discipline in the Florida State League.

Cory Wade (1-2) picked up his first Florida State League win. He went 6-5 at Columbus before a late-July call-up to Vero Beach. Wade allowed just one run in his first five innings and set down nine in a row at one point. He tired in the sixth, allowing the home run to Peterson, and ended up allowing five runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Florida State League Stories from August 8, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central