Miracle win controversial game

Brevard County 2 at Fort Myers 3

W: O. Sosa (1-0, 4.15); L: M. McClendon (2-3, 5.03)
HR: BRE: L. Cain (6).

Garrett Olson came home in the bottom of the 10th in a very controversial call that gave the Fort Myers Miracle a 3-2 win over the Brevard County Manatees.

Jeremy Jeffress and Alex Burnett each kept the other team off the board until the bottom of the fifth. Jeffress would hit Yangervis Solarte with a pitch, which the Manatees argued that the young Miracle had leaned into. Eli Tintor then singled to put 2 runners on. Danny Santieseban would lay down a sac bunt to move the runners. Danny Lehmann then hit into a ground out that allowed Solarte to score.

The Manatees wasted no time answering, with Lorenzo Cain taking his sixth home run of the season from Burnett, sending a ball over the left field fence.

Jeffress would work through the sixth, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out a very impressive 9. Burnett would go through the 7th, allowing 1 run on five hits and a walk while striking out 2.

In the top of the 9th, Stephen Chapman singled out to center off reliever Oswaldo Sosa. Martin Mauldonado then hit a freight-train line drive that Danny Berg couldn't handle out to right field that moved Chapman to 3rd. Jeremy Mojica ground into a force out, allowing Chapman to score to put the Tees on top.

But the Miracle answered back, with Berg singling his way onto base and Solarte moving him on a sac-bunt. Tintor then singled to drive in Berg, sending the game into extra innings under a sky threatening to drop more rain on the already water weary fans.

Olson and Yancarlos Ortiz would single in the bottom of the 10th. The pair would be moved by Steve Singleton's sac bunt, and Mike McClendon would intentionally walk Edward Ovalle. Berg then reached on a force attempt with 3rd baseman Taylor Green throwing the ball the home. The ball would hit Olson in the back of the head on the way to the plate. The Manatees were arguing that Olson was outside the line when it happened, the umpire disagreed, much to the chagrin of Brevard.

The Miracle held a very subdued celebration under a light drizzle as the crowd scampered for the exits, hoping to avoid another drenching.

The rain will get a day to itself on Monday, as the Miracle take a rest. Baseball resumes at the Bill on Tuesday with the Yankees coming into town for a three game series, that ends in Independence Day fireworks on Thursday.

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