Rain helps Miracle on Water Day #3

Brevard County 3 at Fort Myers 5

W: J. Rainville (1-1, 2.87); L: Z. Braddock (3-5, 5.04); SV: A. Slama (16)
HR: BRE: S. Chapman (10), C. Caufield (2). FTM: G. Olson (1).

A steady drizzle in the second inning helped the Fort Myers Miracle take four runs from the Brevard County Manatees who could not control a slippery ball.

The game would be delayed for close to 2 hours while a storm swept through the area, with the first pitch finally being thrown at 8:50 PM.

Zach Braddock was the hard luck pitcher who was on the mound when the drizzle started. He would hit Edward Ovalle with a pitch, then issue walks to Juan Portes and Eli Tintor to load the bases. Steve Singleton knocked a line drive to left that brought in a pair. Chuck Caufield would be charged with an era despite playing in weather not fit for a duck on a very skiddish outfield surface. Yangervis Solarte would then get hit by a pitch and Danny Lehmann would walk to force in a run. John Axford then came in for the Manatees. He would get Garrett Olson to hit into a force out that scored Singleton to spot the Miracle a four run lead.

Despite being named for an aquatic animal, the Manatees probably aren't very water friendly right now.

Steve Chapman would take a walk in the top of the 7th, and Chuck Caufield would follow that up with his second home run of the season, over the left field fence to cut the Miracle lead in half.

However, with Travis Wendte on the mound in the bottom of the inning, Garrett Olson would follow suite, clocking his first ball out of the yard for the Miracle.

Jose Lugo would allow a home run to Chapman in the ninth, his 10th yard ball of the season, which went over the right field wall. Anthony Slama would come in to take the last two outs.

It is very questionable as to how many of the announced 3,224 fans were actually in attendance to enjoy the midnight fireworks display.

The Miracle managed only three hits in the game. But who needs hits when you can just swim your way to victory?

The series concludes on a hopefully drier Sunday, with a rather interesting match up between Alex Burnett (6-2, 3.56) on the mound for the Miracle and Jeremy Jeffress (3-3, 4.75) throwing for the Manatees.

Due to the lengthy rain delay to start Saturday’s action, fans with ticket stubs for Saturday’s game can hold on to them, using them for free admission to any remaining Miracle Sunday-Wednesday home game in 2008.

Box
Log
Miracle
News Press: Maple bats
News Press: Miracle News
Garrett Olson
NDN

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Cedar Rapids 8 at Beloit 4

W: J. Walden (4-5, 2.42); L: M. Tarsi (4-8, 5.71); SV: E. McKiernan (7)
HR: CED: J. Perez (8), C. Fuller (3). BEL: G. Yersich (5).

Despite the addition of Rene Leveret and Andrew Schmiesing to their roster, the Beloit Snappers would still fall, 8-4 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Mike Tarsi would take the loss, giving up 6 runs, 5 earned, on 8 hits and 1 walks while striking out 5.

The Snappers offense would not get into gear until the bottom of the six, when Chris Armstrong replaced Jordan Walden on the mound. Rene Leveret would double, and Greg Yersich would hammer his fifth home run of the season over the center field wall to give the Snappers two. Following a strike out to Schmiesing, the Kernels got Ismael Carmona from the bullpen. He would issue walks to Mark Dolenc and Estarlin De Los Santos. Chris Cates would fly out, but Ben Revere singled to drive in Dolenc for the 3rd snappers run. Deibinson Romero would draw a walk as well, but A.J. Ford stepped into the game, getting Ozzie Lewis out on strikes to end the inning.

Yersich would double in the bottom of the seventh, and following a ground out to Schmiesing, come home on Dolenc's line drive single. That would be it for the Snappers though who never could overcome the initial deficit.

Yersich had the only multi-hit game for Beloit, going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and a pair of runs scored.

The series continues on Sunday with a 2:00 PM matinee game.

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Log
Snappers
Friday:
Kernels