Miracle sweep Threshers

Clearwater 2 at Fort Myers 3

Record 8 - 6

W: A. Slama (1-0, 0.00); L: B. Schlitter (0-1, 3.18)
HR: None.

Rene Tosoni doubled in the bottom of the 9th, brining in Danny Valencia to give the Miracle the run they would needed to end Thursday night's pitching duel and win the game, and the series, against the Clearwater Threshers.

Starters Tyler Robertson for the Miracle and Antonio Bastardo for Clearwater worked four scoreless innings to start off the contest. Robertson would surrender the first run, in the fifth inning, with Carlos Leon doubling out to right. A catching error on Robertson - with an assist to first baseman Johnny Woodard - allowed Matthew Spencer to reach and Leon to score.

Leon's run would be considered unearned, given up on 6 hits and two walks while striking out 5 over 5.

The bottom of the sixth would see the Miracle take the run back, with Woodard taking a walk, and Rene Tosoni getting hit by a pitch. Following a fly out to Wilson Ramon, Danny Santiesteban singled to drive in Woodard.

The teams then exchanged runs in the 8th inning. Matthew Spencer would single off pitcher Matt Fox and move to 2nd on a sac bunt by Gus Milner. P.J.Antonio's line drive moved Spenser to 3rd. Following a walk to John Urick that loaded the bases, Welinson Baez hit into a force out that allowed Spencer to cross the plate. Alan Robbins would strike out swinging ot end the inning with men stranded at the corners.

Woodard singled in the eighth, and Rene Tosoni and Wilson Ramos both drew walks to load the bases. Danny Santiesteban would ground into a force out that would see Woodard out at home, with the bases loaded. A pitching change to Brian Schlitter saw pinch hitter Brian Dinkelman draw a walk that forced in a run, tying up the game again and setting up the stage for the Miracle win in the ninth.

Woodard was 3-for-4 with a run and a walk to lead the offense, while Juan Portes was 2-for-5 but did not figure into the scoring.

The win puts the Miracle in second place in the West Division standings, 1 game behind Dunedin who lost their last 2 to the Tampa Yankees. 14 games in, Clearwater is posting a 4 - 10 record which is NOT the league worst. That dubious honor belongs to the St. Lucie Mets, who have only won two games thus far in the new season.

The Miracle now travel to Sarasota for a brief 2 game series against the Reds. Friday's game begins at 7:00 and Saturday's at 6:00 at Ed Smith Stadium. The Miracle return home Sunday for a 5:05 contest against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Boxscore
Log
Miracle
Breeze
Jeff Crupper

Up in New Britain, Dustin Martin continues to lead the Rock Cats offensively, posting a .395 average over 11 games with 9 runs and 8 RBI's. Steve Tolleson is batting .161 over 9 games, while Erik Lis, playing in the outfield, is hitting only .154, having only 6 hits in 39 at bats over 10 games. Former Miracle first baseman Brock Peterson is hitting only .196 in 12 games, but has 3 home runs to his credit.

The Rock Cats hold a 6-6 record, good for forth place in the six team Northern Division of the Eastern League.

Down in Beloit, short stop Steve Singleton leads the team in batting, hitting .395 (17 hits, 43 at bats) in 12 games. Outfielders Chris Parmelee and Garrett Olson are in second and third, hitting .351 and .283 respectively.

The Snappers are 5 - 9 on the season, dead last in the 8 team Western Division of the Mid West League.