Whitefield, Lee Lift Miracle To 8-3 Win In Opener
May 31, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
LAKELAND, Fla. - Aaron Whitefield launched a three-run homer and Hunter Lee also drove in three, as the Miracle took down Lakeland, 8-3, on Friday night at Publix Field at Joke Marchant Stadium.
The game was delayed for two hours and 12 minutes in the bottom of the second inning due to heavy rain. The Miracle were up 1-0 at the time, but starter Jordan Balazovic was forced to leave the game. Lakeland starter Garrett Hill also departed.
Whitefield's blast broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth and put the Miracle in front for good. Fort Myers added another in the fifth inning, but Lakeland responded with single runs in the sixth and seventh to make it 5-3.
Lee came up with two on and one out in the eighth and delivered a two-run single up the middle through the drawn in infield. In the ninth, Ryan Jeffers hit a towering solo home run to left center field, his fifth of the season.
Fort Myers finished with 31 home runs in May, a new franchise record for a single month. Ten came from Lewin Diaz, who also set a Miracle record for home runs by a single player in a month.
Balazovic retired all four hitters he faced, striking out two. Melvi Acosta (3-1) entered following the rain delay and tossed 4.2 innings to earn the win. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Hector Lujan retired all seven hitters he faced and struck out two to pick up his third save.
Trevor Larnach went 2-for-4 with a walk and is now 9-for-13 in his last three games. Lee, Whitefield, and Jeffers also had two hits apiece for the Miracle. Fort Myers went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
The win for the Miracle coupled with Palm Beach's loss at Florida put the two teams into a first place tie atop the FSL South Division with 14 games to go in the first half.
The three-game series continues on Saturday night in Lakeland. Right-hander Jhoan Duran will start for the Miracle. He struck out 14 in six innings last Sunday against Daytona, the most by a pitcher in a minor league game this season. First pitch is 6:00 p.m. ET.
Florida State League Stories from May 31, 2019
- Whitefield, Lee Lift Miracle To 8-3 Win In Opener - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Murray Hurls a Quality Start in a Dunedin Victory in Clearwater - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Tarpons Rally in Ninth Inning, Walk off against Marauders - Tampa Tarpons
- Evanko's Strong Start Not Enough in Series Opening Loss to First-Place Dunedin - Clearwater Threshers
- Kingham, Coquis Crush Cardinals, 7-0 - Florida Fire Frogs
- Long Balls Lift Stone Crabs Past Mets 6-1 - Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Jupiter Walks-Off Daytona in Opener, 2-1 - Daytona Tortugas
- Mets Fall 6-1 at Charlotte - St. Lucie Mets
- Dunedin Opens a Huge Series with Division Rival Clearwater - Dunedin Blue Jays
- Stone Crabs Game Notes - Fri, May 31 vs St. Lucie - Charlotte Stone Crabs
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.
Other Recent Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Stories
- Fort Myers Falls in Series Finale 7-4
- Fort Myers Blanked by Dunedin 3-0, Shut out for First Time in 2025
- Fort Myers Defeated by Dunedin 9-1, Lose Third Consecutive Game
- Fort Myers Drops Game Three of Series against Dunedin 5-4
- Mussels Fall 7-3 in Game Two of Series against Dunedin
