Miracle open home stand with win

Dunedin 2 at Fort Myers 3

Record 5 - 4

The Miracle opened their 3 game home series against the Dunedin Blue Jays strong, watching both Brian Dinkelman and Johnny Woodard take advantage of strong winds to put balls over the right field fence.

Tyler Robertson's first appearance against the home town crowd seemed to start out strong as well, as he struck out Chris Emanuele to start out, then retiring Sean Shoffit on a fly out and 2006 1st rounder Travis Snider on a ground out.

But Robertson started to struggle in the 2nd. Brian Dopirak opened with a double out to left. After two consecutive strike outs, Bradley Emaus took a walk. Jesus Gonzalez singled to load the bases and a Jonathan Diaz single saw Dopirak across the plate for the first Dunedin run. With the bases still loaded, Robertson was able to entice Emanuele to his second strike out of the game.

Kenny Rodriguez took the start for the Jays and worked six innings, keeping the Miracle to only 3 hits during that time, two of which were the first inning home runs. He issued only one walk and struck out 5.

After a 3-up, 3-down bottom of the second for the Miracle, Shoffit walked to start out the top of the 3rd. While Snider struck out swinging, Shoffit would steal second on catcher Wilson Ramos. A line drive by Dopirak saw Shoffit across the plate as the Jays tied the game.

While Robertson's seven strike outs were impressive, the six hits and 2 walks marred the performance. He also threw a lot of pitches, giving way after the 4th inning to Danny Vias, who would hold the Jays to only one hit, while striking out 3 over the next four.

Edward Ovalle came into the game in the 7th to pinch hit for Whit Robbins, drawing a walk to get on base with one out. A wild pitch by reliever B.J. Ryan saw Ovalle to 2nd and a balk by Ryan got him to 3rd. After Juan Portes struck out swinging, Danny Santiesteban took the first pitch he faced deep for a double bringing in Ovalle for the game winner.

With Dinkleman on 3rd base in the top of the 9th, both Danny Valencia and Johnny Woodard had a chance to add an insurance marker, but both struck out, ending the winning.

Emaus singled out to right in the 9th and stole 2nd, but three strike outs by Anthony Slama shut the door on a Jays rally, letting the Miracle take game one of the series.

Box
Log
MiracleBaseball.com
News Press
Breeze