Manship, Slama shut out Reds

Sarasota 0 at Fort Myers 2

W: J. Manship (6-2, 3.11); L: A. Smit (4-4, 3.51); SV: A. Slama (9)
HR: None.

For the second straight game, the Miracle shut out the Sarasota Reds, this time 2-0. The 3-game home-and-home series concludes tonight in Sarasota at 7:00.

Jeff Manship allowed only 3 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings. Uncharacteristically, he only struck out 2, and seemed to throw more balls then unusual, but got through the game unscathed. It probably wasn't the best outing I've seen from him, but it was far from being the worst on as well.

In the bottom of the second, Juan Portes and Eli Tintor hit back-to-back singles. Allan de San Miguel walked to load the bases. A Yancarlos Ortiz sac-fly to center brought in Portes to put one run on the board.

Former Miracle Alex Smit pitched well for the Reds. That would be the only run he'd give up, on 7 hits and 2 walks while fanning 4 over six innings. It was as good of a classic pitcher's duel as we've seen in the stadium in a while.

Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette replace Smit on the Reds mound in the bottom of the 7th. Ortiz would single his way onto base, and move over to 2nd on a sac-bunt by Brian Dinkelman. A balk saw Ortiz advance to 3rd before Ovalle hit a ground ball single to center to bring in the Miracle short stop for the second Fort Myers run.

Anthony Slama came in to pitch the last two innings, allowing a line drive single to Juan Francisco in the top of the 9th, but otherwise mowing through the competition to pick up his 9th save of the season.

Portes finished up the game 3-for-4 with a run. Tintor was 2-for-4, both legitimate hits, not flukes like last night's hit was. He also struck out twice as did Ovalle up near the top of the order.

Danny Valencia hit a beautiful fly down the first base line that Chris Heisey could not quite get a glove on in the bottom of the 5th for a triple, but with 2 outs already on the board, Smit was able to get Whit Robbins out on strikes to end the inning.

Deolis Guerra (5-1, 4.56) will get the start tonight on Dollar Days at Ed Smith Stadium. Sarasota counters with a 70-million dollar proposal to lure the Red Sox away from Lee County. Or perhaps Rafael Gonzalez (2-3, 8.65), who is actually more in their price range.

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The oft injured Danny Berg is experiencing some issues with his hamstring and is day-to-day.

Scott Baker will pitch for the Miracle Friday in Tampa at the newly renamed Case de Steinbrener. With the GCL Twins on the road this weekend, one could stop by Bradenton to pick up the noon game there, then progress on to Tampa to see Scotty pitch against the T-Yanks. Then spend the night at Sarasota and stop off at Twins Lakes for the Noon game there on the way back for a nice baseball road trip.

One could, but as my car has never quite recovered from the last Bradenton trip, this one is not.

Where is Jose Mijares? Section 108, Row 12, Seat 4 or there abouts the last time I checked. The lefty reliever is rehabbing back at the Lee County Sportsplex, and has been attending Miracle games quite a bit.