Miracle out hit, but can't out run, Jays

Fort Myers 3 at Dunedin 7

W: A. Wideman (4-4, 4.95); L: C. Devries (7-8, 2.97); SV: C. Falkenbach (19)
HR: None.

I was hoping that the Fort Myers Miracle would want to use this series a warm up for a potential play off match, but the Dunedin Blue Jays showed nothing but contempt for the 1st half west division champs as they strolled over them to 7-3 win Sunday at Knology Park.

Marcos Cabral took a double off Miracle ace Cole Devries in the bottom of the first, and Cory Patton singled him in. Brian Dopirak doubled as well to plate Patton and after Anthony Hatch went down on strikes, Jesus Gonzalez singled out to center to bring in Dopirak, giving the Jays an early 3 run lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, Chris Emanuele doubled, and following a walk to Cabral, came home on a Patton single.

Dunedin's A.J. Wideman worked the first five innings as did Devries for Fort Myers. But the Miracle would not mount much of an offense until the fifth inning, then Garrett Olson singled. Wideman would pick him off at first though, so it was up to Danny Lehmann to lead the attack with a line drive to right. Danny Santiesteban singled and Yancarlos Oritz tripled to plate the pair. Steve Singleton's ground ball to short would drive in Ortiz befor Whit Robbins flew out and Eli Tintor ground out to send Fort Myers back on the defense.

With Devries still on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, Jesus Gonzalez walked, Matthew Liuzza reached on a force attempt that failed when Ortiz bobbled the ball and Gonzalez went to 3rd. Jeff Smith would call upon Jose Lugo to get the Miracle out of the jam, but he allowed a double to Caladrone that brought in Gonzalez. Luis Sanchez's single plated the other two runner before Chris Emanuele went down on strikes and Sanchez was caught stealing. Cabral drew a walk, but Patton lined out to end the inning.

While the next 4 innings saw the Miracle get 5 runs and a walk off the Jay's relievers, they could not put anything together.

Carlos Guierrez worked a couple of scoreless innings for the Miracle to finish off the game. Submariner Conner Falkenbach picked up his 19th save of the year for the Jays.

Lehmann was 3-for-4 with a run, Ortiz was 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and a pair of RBIs. Singleton was also 2-for-4 with a walk and a run.

Juan Portes and Robbins, both 1-for-5, and Eli Tintor, Garrett Olson and Santiesteban, each 1-for-4, had singles in the game, Santiesteban with run to leave the others as one hit wonders.

Lots of hit singles but no runs to show for them.

Alex Burnette (6-4, 3.74) will try to get some respect from the Miracle's division rivals as he goes up against Randy Boone (2-1, 4.45) Monday evening. First pitch is set for 7:00 PM.

With the loss, the Miracle fall to 8 games behind Dunedin, three games in front of the cellar dwelling Threshers.

The Miracle return home Thursday Night for a Thirsty Thursday against those same Threshers.

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Former Miracle Anthony Swarzak has been promoted from AA New Britain the the Rochester Red Wings and will make his first AAA start on Wednesay. Swarzak replaces Brian Duensing on the roster. Duensing, another former Miracle, is off to Beijing as part of Team USA to participate in the upcoming summer Olympic games.

As part of a going away gift for Duensing, Wings GM Dan Mason gave Duensing a plane ticket so that his wife, Lisa, may join him in Beijing. His teammates on the Red Wings have put together a silent auction that will take place at Rochester's Aug. 8 home game, the proceeds of which will help ofset the hotel costs for the tirp.

GCL Twins outfielder Aaron Hicks is the Twins' Minor League Player of the Week for July 19-25. Hicks, 18, batted .400 (8-for-20) with a double, home run, four RBI and four runs scored in five games. Hicks was drafted in the first round, 14th overall in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.