Monday, May 19, 2008

Miracle bats overcome bullpen's bounteousness

Fort Myers Miracle


Fort Myers 12 at Jupiter 10

W: M. Fox (2-1, 5.09); L: K. Koehler (0-1, 4.15); SV: A. Slama (8)
HR: FTM: W. Ramos 2 (5), E. Ovalle (4), Y. Solarte (1). JUP: S. McDougall (3), B. Petersen (2).

Another slug fest, and another overtime game turned into a win for the Fort Myers Miracle Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium.

Fort Myers took a liking to Marlins prospect Christhain Martinez, with Whit Robbins singling in the first with one out. Following a strike out to Juan Portes, Johnny Woodard tripled in Robbins to put the Miracle on the board.

Wilson Ramos hit his first home run of the game, his fourth of the season in the second inning, taking a Martinez pitch over the right field wall.

Jupiter would cut the Miracle lead in half in the bottom of the third. Christopher Dunn hit a ground-rule double out to left. Following a bunt pop to Bryan Petersen, Smelin Perez moved Dunn to 3rd with a fly out to left field. Kevin Randel's line drive brought in Dunn to put the Hammerheads on the board. James Guerrero would reach on a fielding error by shortstop Yancarlos Oritz, but Ramos picked off Randel at 2nd base to retire the side.

The Miracle wasted no time taking the run back, with newcomer Yangervis Solarte going yard over the right field fence.

Portes would single out to left in the top of the 5th, and Woodard would double him in. Edward Ovalle than put his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall, to make it 6-1 Miracle.

Despite the woes that former Miracle Colby Miller faced in Low A Greensboro, I just knew he'd find his way into High A to face his former team. C-Mill was brought in to replace Martinez in the top of the sixth, and allowed a lead off walk to Solarte. Ortiz walked as well, and Brian Dinkelman hit a ground rule double out to left to bring in Solarte. Following a fly out to Whit Robbins, Portes would sacrifice in Ortiz. Woodard's line drive single plated Dinkelman making it 9-1 Miracle.

The Hammerheads started their comeback rally in the sixth, with Randel taking a double off Deolis Guerra. A throwing error by Whit Robbins allowed James Guerrero to reach and Randel to score. As the ball bounced into the dugout, Guerrero was awarded second base as well. Gregory Burns then doubled to plate Jupiter's 2nd baseman.

C-Mill would allow a single to Solarte in the 7th, but got Ramos and Danny Berg out on grounders and Ortiz to fly out to retire the side.

Danny Santiesteban would replace Portes in left field at the bottom of the 7th, and Danny Vais took over the mound from Guerra, who had turned in a quality start. Guerra would allow 3 runs, 2 earned in six this and 1 walk while striking out 4 over six innings. Peterson would put a solo-shot home run over the right field wall in the inning, giving the Hammerheads 4 runs on the board.

Adam Campbell replaced Miller in the top of the 8th, with Jupiter making a couple of defensive switches as well. Rocky Palacios would pinch hit for Dinkelman, taking a walk. Robbins would fly out, and Santiesteban would be plunked by a pitch putting two men on base. Woodard's single moved the pair, but Ovalle would ground into a double play to end the inning.

Guerrero lead off with a walk in the bottom of the 8th, Spike McDougal flew out before Agustin Septimo singled out to left. Guillermo Martinez then few out to right. Guerrero would steal 3rd, and would come home on a Justin Webb triple, that also plated Septimo. Miracle field manager Jeff Smith then called Frank Mata out of the bullpen to replace Vais. He'd get Dunn to ground out to end the inning, but it was not all wine and roses for Mata.

Ramos knocked his second home run of the game, his fifth of the season over the right field wall off Jupiter reliever Jarrett Santos. Despite the generosity of the Miracle bullpen it would have seemed they had this game finished, but that was not the case.

Petersen would reach on a fielding error by Oritz. After a strike out to Perez, Randel and Guerrero hit back-to-back singles, one of which plated Petersen. Smith then called for Rob Delaney, but the Miracle's Sandman got hit hard by McDougall who put a ball over the center field wall to tie up the game.

The first two extra innings would go scoreless for both teams, despite Jupiter having two men on board in the 11th. Ortiz would double off Kurt Koehler in the top of the 12th, and Palacios would follow him on base with a walk. Geury Ramirez was brought in to replace Koehler. Robbins would lay down a sac-bunt to move the pair of Miracle runners before a line drive by Santiesteban brought in Ortiz for the game winning run. Woodard's sac-fly plated Palacios for the insurance run.

Matt Fox would allow singled to Martinez and Dunn before Anthony Slama came in, taking Petersen out on strikes and getting Perez to pop out to end the contest.

A total of 31 hits would be record between the two teams. Woodard would have a profitable day, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a run and 4 RBIs to net a veritable picnic of rewards despite being a home runs hy of the cycle. Ortiz was 3-for-5 with walk and 2 runs. Solarte was 2-for-5 with a walk, 2 runs and a run scored in his Florida State League debut. Ramos was 2-for-6 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs off the pair of homer runs. Ovalle was 2-for-7 with a run and 2 RBIs.

The two teams play game two of the 4-game series Monday night with Graham Taylor (4-3, 4.13) throwing out the 7:05 PM first pitch for Jupiter. The Miracle will counter with righty Alex Burnett (3-1, 2.97)

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