Dog days dog Miracle

Fort Myers 0 at Clearwater 2

W: C. Monasterios (5-8, 5.38); L: M. Fox (7-7, 3.55); SV: D. Brauer (3)
HR: None.

After heading over to Pelican Preserve for the golf tournament this morning, then heading back to Clearwater for a 4:00 PM game, it should come as no surprise that the Miracle were a bit lazy on the their offense.

As a result, they were handed their 9th shut out of the season - their 5th in the month of August - by the Threshers who finally crawled out of the South Division basement courtesy of the back-to-back wins.

The Miracle managed only 4 hits in the game, with Wilson Ramos going 2-for-4 at the plate. Steve Singleton was 1-for-4, Yancarlos Ortiz was 1-for-1, replacing Olson at short, toward the end of the contest.

Edward Ovalle, Eli Tintor and Danny Lehmann all took walks for the Miracle.

Ramos would double in the first inning with 2 outs on the board and was left stranded when Johnny Woodard struck out. It was the only extra base hit for the Miracle.

Matt Fox kept the Threshers off the board for the first five innings. Michael Taylor singled off the Florida native in the bottom of the sixth, but Fox took John Urick down on strikes. Fidel Hernandez singled and Anthony Mansolino took a walk. Jose Lugo would then be brought in to replace Fox, and he'd walk Tuffy Gosewisch, forcing in Taylor. A wild pitch allowed Hernandez to cross the plate.

Both runs were charge to Fox, as inherited runners. He'd give up five hits and 3 walks while fanning 8.

Carlos Monasterios picked up the win for Clearwater, allowing only 3 hits and a pair of walks over 7 innings while striking out six.

Dan Brauer came in for the final two innings, earning his 3rd save of the season, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out three.

The Miracle finish up their road trip tomorrow with a 7:00 PM game against the Threshers. They return home on Tuesday for the final 2-for-Tuesday of the 2008 season.

Righty Deolis Guerra (10-8, 5.44) will start for the Miracle on the mound. Andy Cruse (4-8, 3.50) is due to get the start for Clearwater.

Box
Log
Miracle
Threshers

I spoke with Pat Neshek at Gulf Coast League today and have hopefully cajoled him into attending a Miracle game. Seems he's been busy taking the doggies out to the doggy beach every evening. I promised we'd let him sit at the autograph table and sign to his heart's content if he'd show up. He did sign the four pieces I had for him today. It was otherwise a pretty profitable day, autographing wise as I also got pitching prospect Brian Kirwan who got to throw one inning in the second game of the double header on rehab and 3rd base prospect Deibinson Romero. 7'1" Loek Van Mil was also in attendance, so I think I'm just going to start carrying the Beloit team set with me whenever I go to a game.

Rene Tosoni played in the first game of today's GCL double header against the GCL Orioles. He should be ready to help boost the Miracle offense for the upcoming playoffs. Former Miracle Jay Sawatski also worked an inning in the first game of the double header, which was swept by the GCL Twins.

Beloit won game three of their four-game series against Burlington ending the Bees 9-game winning streak. Burlington secured their playoff berth despite the loss. Andrew Schmiesing led the Beloit offense going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double a run and 2 RBIs. Minnesota native Mark Dolenc was 2-for-4 a the plate with a double and a pair of runs (Bees).

Jay Rainville won his 9th AA game of the season as the New Britain Rock Cats defeat the Akron Aeros, 3-2. Danny Valencia and Brian Dinkelman were both 1-for-3 at the plate with a run each. Matt Tolbert, on major league rehab, was 2-for-4 with a RBI (Rock Cats/OSC).

The Syracuse Chiefs defeated the Rochester Red Wings 5-3 at Alliance Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon. Former Miracle Garrett Jones was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Luke Hughes finished up 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Trevor Plouffe went 1-for-4 with a double.