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FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Week of walk-offs concludes with 13th-inning Benson blast

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


FORT MYERS -- The Miracle won with a walk-off again on Saturday, marking the fourth walk-off in the last five games, as Joe Benson's game-winning double in the bottom of the thirteenth inning topped the Sarasota Reds, 8-7. Fort Myers won all games decided in the final at-bat at Hammond Stadium during the week: Tuesday and Thursday against the Stone Crabs, and Saturday facing the Reds. At four hours and fifteen minutes, it was the longest of the week at Hammond and second-longest after Wednesday's loss at Charlotte Sports Park. Allan de San Miguel led off the bottom of the thirteenth drawing a walk from left-hander Steven Otterness (2-1). Manager Jeff Smith subbed in Ben Revere to pinch-run, and Chris Cates sacrificed to move the winning run into scoring position. Mark Dolenc battled in his at-bat, ultimately striking out, but Joe Benson doubled off the right-field wall to bring in Revere and send the Miracle to a three-game winning streak. With Charlotte's game rained out on Saturday, the division lead stands at one and a half games. Benson's drive let Loek van Mil off the hook after the closer gave up a game-tying, three-run homer to Neftali Soto in the top of the ninth inning to blow a 7-4 lead. Van Mil settled down and kept the score tied, setting up the later heroics. Chris Parmelee had a 2-for-6 day with a double and two runs scored, and Evan Bigley, at 3-for-6, had the only other multihit game for the hosts. Bigley scored once and drove in three as he notched a double. Dave Sappelt was 3-for-7 with two runs for Sarasota, Justin Reed was 2-for-7 with a run, and Neftali Soto was 2-for-6 with a homer and five RBI as the top three in the Reds' order combined to go 7-for-20 (.350) with a double, triple, homer, five runs scored, and five RBI. Alex Buchholz was 1-for-5 with the other two runs batted in. Michael Allen (1-0) was strong in the final two innings for the win in his 2009 Fort Myers debut. The right-hander, just promoted from Class-A Beloit, limited Sarasota to just one hit in two innings, with no walks and two strikeouts. He is now 1-1 in his career with Fort Myers in two appearances. Both have been in extra innings, as he suffered the loss on June 6, 2008, at Brevard County in 12 innings. Tyler Robertson started and went six innings, with four runs, two earned, on six hits. He walked none and fanned five. The series shifts to Sarasota for the final two games with Sunday's 1:00 p.m. matinee.
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