Miracle look soggy in 4-1 loss to Clearwater

Fort Myers 1 at Clearwater 4

W: D. Naylor (3-7, 5.20); L: C. Devries (9-9, 2.97); SV: M. German (5)
HR: FTM: E. Tintor (6). CLE: M. Eylward (1).

The rains abated somewhat Saturday allowing the Fort Myers Miracle and the Clearwater Threshers to get in a game at Bright House Network Fields.

Game between Sarasota and Tampa, and Daytona and St. Lucie were postponed, while a contest between Palm Beach and Brevard County was canceled.

Cole Devries took the start after a couple of weeks off, resting a sore back and was a bit on the rusty side. John Urick would single off of him to start the bottom of the 2nd inning. Mike Eylward then put a ball over the left field fence for his first home run of the season, giving the Threshers a two run lead.

Eli Tintor would do the same in the top of the 3rd, but his sixth homer of the season was a solo-shot, halfing the Threshers lead.

Brian Finegan and Quintin Berry took back-to-back singled of Devries in the top of the 3rd. Jesus Villegas Andino sacrificed in Finegan. After Gus Milner flew out to 3rd, Berry would go to steal second. Wilson Ramos overthrew the the base and sent Berry to 3rd while the ball bounced off into the outfield. Urick's line drive would plate Berry to make it 4-1 Threshers.

The Miracle would manage seven hits the game, but never posed a threat to Clearwater.

Steve Singleton and Edward Ovalle were both 2-for-4 in the game, Sing with a double, but neither could score. Tintor and Portes finished of 1-for-4 each, Tintor of course with the only tally, on his yarder. Ramos was 1-for-3 with a walk to finish off the offensive end of things.

Devries would work four innings, allowing six hits and striking out only 1. Spencer Steedley took the next 3 allowing a two hits and two walks while fanning two. Matt Williams finished off for the Miracle.

The two teams rematch Sunday for a 4:00 PM game, The Miracle go golfing in the morning with a 8:30 am shotgun start at Pelican Preserve for the 9th Annual Charity Golf Classic.

Upon returning to Clearwater, Matt Fox (7-6, 3.55) will take the mound for the Miracle against the Threshers Carlos Monasterios (4-8, 5.84).

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Team USa defeated Team Japan 8-4 to win Bronze in the Olympics. Port Charlotte native Matt Laporta had a pair of hits and a home run in the contest Korea would top Cuba to win the Gold. The United States finished up 6-3 overall. It was the second bronze medal won by the US in Olympic baseball competition. The first came in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. (USABaseball.com)

Danny Valencia was 2-for-4 Saturday with 2 runs, including a home run, and 1 RBI as the Rock Cats defeated the Akron Aeros 3-2 in New Britain Stadium. Dustin Martin (1-4) also went yard for the Cats, who are 17 games below .500 on the season.

The Rochester Red wings slipped past the Pawtucket Red Sox, 4-3, at Frontier Field. Reining IL Offensive Player of the Week Matt Macri knocked his 10th home run of the season out of the park in the 7th with one man on. Former Miracle Trevor Plouffe was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI. Kyle Snyder, who had been rehabbing earlier in the season with the GCL Red Sox suffered both the blown save and the loss.

A day after the Appalachian League Twins clinched their Division title and a spot in the playoffs, the Low A Beloit Snappers saw their playoff hope all but dashed as the Burlington Bees stung the Snappers, 5-3. Mike McCardell took the loss, his fourth of the season. Yangervis Solarte was 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI and catcher Allan de San Miguel was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run. (Bees) The Snappers are 5 back in the wild card race, with 8 left to play.

Tigers tear up Miracle pitching

Fort Myers 7 at Lakeland 9

W: R. Weinhardt (3-1, 1.84); L: O. Sosa (2-2, 5.57); SV: R. Perry (4)
HR: FTM: S. Singleton (4).

The Lakeland Flying Tigers out slugged the Fort Myers Miracle as they feasted on Southwest Florida's pitching, taking a 9-7 win at Joker Marchant Stadium.

At least the bat of reigning FSL offensive player of the week, Michael Bertram, was relatively quite, as he didn't put anything over the fence. He did finish 2-for-5 however, with a double, a run and run batted in.

The Miracle got on the board first however, as Juan Portes took a single from Lakeland starter Duane Below. One out later, Portes would advance to 2nd on a balk. Wilson Ramos then singled him in, giving the Miracle one.

They made it 2 in the top of the 3rd with Steve Singleton putting his 4th home run of the season over the right field wall.

Rookie pitcher Joe Testa took the start and made it through the first two inning with nothing more than a walk to Brennan Boesch. His luck would run out in the third however.

He lead off with a walk to Brandon Timm and gave up a single to Jeff Kunkel. A passed ball by Wilson Ramos advanced the runners. Justin Justice then tripled to bring in the pair. A Louis Ott single plated Justice. Testa then got Bertram and Cale Iorg out on strikes, but allowed a triple to Boesch that drove in Ott. Jeremy Laster also knocked a triple out to center, to send Boesch over the plate. Jordan Lennerton would ground out however, getting Testa out of the inning.

The Miracle Bats were up the task however, as Whit Robbins walked in the top of the 4th, Edward Ovalle singled Robbins to 3rd and Johnny Woodard walked the bags full. A force attempt failed when Ott misfielded the ball, allowing Garrett Olson to reach and Robbins to score. Eli Tintor doubled two more in. The Tigers would take Below off the mound, bringing Ramon Garcia out of the bullpen. Yancarlos Ortiz ground out, plating Olson in the process to put the Miracle up by one. Juan Portes would walk and Singleton would be hit by a pitch to load up the bases again, but Wilson Ramos ground into a double play, retiring the side.

While it's usually 3-strikes, not 3-triples and you're out, in this came, it was the later as Testa came out and Ozzie Sosa went in for the Miracle. Timm tripled off the Venezuelan, but he'd then get Kunkel, Justice and Ott out on strikes to strand him.

Bertram doubled off Sosa in the bottom of the 5th home and Iorg singled him in, tying up the game. Boesch and Laster both ground out before Sosa walked Lennerton. Timm then struck out swinging.

Kunkel would walk to start the bottom of the sixth and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch. Justice then walked as well. Jeff Smith didn't wait for Sosa to get this walk-fest into full swing, fetching Jose Lugo from the bullpen. But it was the wrong Jose Lugo! Lugo's throwing error allowed Ott to reach on a sac-bunt, for a bases load situation. Bertram singled in Kunkel. After Lugo got Iorg out on strikes. Boesch would ground into a force out that scored Justice. Laster then ground out,sending the Miracle to the plate again.

It was a somewhat wasted exercise as Robbie Weinhardt kept Fort Myers as quiet in the 7th as he had in the sixth.

Jeff Smith would try David Shinskie next. A fielding error by Ortiz allowed Lennerton to reach. Timm would advance him on a ground out, and Kunkel doubled to send Lennerton home, to give the Tigers nine.

The Miracle would try a brief rally in the top of the 9th, with Tintor tripling off Ryan Perry. Ortiz then singled him, but Perry took Portes down on strikes and got Singleton to fly out. Ramos then struck out to end the contest.

Tintor finished up 2-for-3 at the plate with with a walk, a double and a triple, a run and a pair of runs scored. Portes would end u 2-for-4 on the night with walk and arun. Singledon, Ovalle, and Ortiz were all 1-for-4, Sing with the home run, Ovalle with a run, and Ortiz with a pair of RBIs. Ramos ended up 1-for-5 with a RBI.

Robbins was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run, as was Woodard. Olson was 0-for-4 with a run and a RBI.

Sosa took the loss, his second of the season, ending up allowing 3 runs, 2 earned on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. Testa would allow 5 runs on 5 hits and two walks while fanning 4 over three.

The two teams rematch tomorrow with Jonah Nickerson (11-3, 3.66) throwing out the first pitch at 7:00 PM, weather permitting. Alex Burnett (7-5, 4.03) will get the ball for the Miracle.

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Danny Berg was promoted to the New Britain Rock Cats on Monday. Joining him was former Miracle and current Minnesota Twin Matt Tolbert to start his rehab assignment. Tolbert had indicated that he'd be joining the Miracle for their last home stand, but Tropical Storm Fay was one of the factors deciding the change of plans. But the same token, Alexi Casilla was sent to Beloit to rehab. He was activated off the DL Wednesday night, while Brian Bass was outrighted to Rochester to make room for him on the Minnestoa roster.

The Rock Cats are hosting the Tigers AA affiliate, the Erie Sea Wolves. They lost for the first time in six game, 5-2. Dustin Martin, Danny Valencia, Felix Molina and Brian Dinkelman had one hit each for the Rock Cats while Ryan Roberson, Jeff Frazier and Diek Scram had multi-hit games for the Seas Wolves. Frank Mata took the loss, his first at the AA level.

The Rock Cats extended their affiliation with Minnesota through 2010. The Twins also acquired minor league outfield Joe Gaetti, the 26-year old son of Minnesota Twins' Hall-of-Famer Gary Gaetti, in a deal with Oakland and assigned him to New Britain. He replaced Brock Peterson on the Rock Cats roster.

The Rochester Red Wings defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Former Miracle Anthony Swarzak is now 4-0 at the AAA level. Luke Hughes and Trevor Plouffe were both 2-for-4 in the game, Hughes with two runs, Plouffe with one.

The Beloit Snappers were idle last night. Elizabethton topped Princeton in Appalachia League action. First baseman Jon Waltenbury had a pair of home runs in the game, upping his season total to 10. Dan Osterbrock took the win, his 7th professional victory.

The Miracle host their annual Charity Golf Classic on Sunday, August 24th at Pelican Preserve. For more information or to register for the Charity Golf Classic, please call Terry Simon at 239-768-4210.

Picture of Joe Testa and Spencer Steedley are now available in our online Photo Gallery.

And finally the price gougers fine folks at Yahoo have decided to up their website hosting by $4.00 a month for this site. If it wasn't such a PIA to move, I'd find a cheaper alternative. Instead I've shut down my Everblades site - as I wasn't doing anything with it anyway - and my personal site - another project that fell by wayside. The end result is that Yahaoo will get less, not more, money from me per month.

Miracle rout Reds in Sara

Fort Myers 15 at Sarasota 2

W: M. Fox (7-6, 3.55); L: R. Gonzalez (5-10, 6.85)
HR: FTM: J. Portes (10), J. Woodard (5).

The Fort Myers Miracle made short work of Rafael Gonzalez, taking 9 runs, 8 earned, from the Sarasota Reds starter in route to a 15-2 drubbing at Ed Smith Stadium.

Steve Singleton led off in the first with a line drive to center with one out on the board. Danny Berg Singled and Johnny Woodard took a walk to load up the bags. After a pop out to Edward Ovalle, Eli Tintor drew walk to force in Singleton. Garrett Olson then doubled to clean off the plates before Danny Lehmann ground out to end the inning.

Matt Fox would blank the Reds through seven innings of work, scattering six hits and a pair of walks while striking out 5. Following a ground out to Jose Castro, Carson Kainer would double off Fox in the bottom of the 1st and move to 3rd on a wild pitch. Juan Francisco drew a walk, but Fox took Todd Frazier and Logan Parker down on strikes to leave the Red's runners stranded.

Danny Santiesteban would strike out to start the top of the 2nd. Juan Portes followed it up with a single shot home run over the left field wall, his 10th of the season. Singleton and Berg hit back-to-back line drives to find their way onto base. Woodard's fly ball to left scored Sing, while Ovalle singled out to right, loading the bases. Tintor sacrificed in Berg, and Olson's line drive brought in Woodard. Lehmann single to plate Ovalle before Santiesteban, batting around the order, flew out to end the inning.

Gonzalez was not invited back out to the mound for the third inning, the Reds sent Logan Ondrusek out instead. Gonzales and Ondrusek and blanked the Miracle on August 3rd at Hammond Stadium, but the table were certainly turned in Sarasota.

Portes drew a walk off the tall Texan, and Singleton doubled. Berg tripled the pair in and came home on Woodard's ground out. Ovalle would ground out as well, and Tintor would go down on strikes, leaving Ondrusek relatively unscathed.

The Miracle rested in the fourth, but Singleton's double in the top of the 5th got them sparked again. Woodard would put his 5th home run of the season over the right field wall to score two. Red's manager Joe Ayrault was very unhappy, as the umpire had called what looked to be a strike with a 2-2 count a ball, and the next pitch was the one Woodard crushed over the fence. He was unhappier when Shawn Barber did not see it his way and ejected him from the game.

Ondrusek would follow his manager off the field, with Steve Otterness replacing him in the mound. The Tampa, Florida, native would get through the sixth and the seventh untouched, although he'd plunk Sing with a pitch in the seventh. Woodard singled off him in the top of the 8th, and Ovalle reached on a force attempt, in which 3rd baseman Jason Louwsma failed to field the ball. A sacrifice by Tintor brought in Woodard. Ovalle would make it to 3rd on Lehmann's double, but would left stranded when Santiesteban struck out.

David Shinskie finally found his way onto the Fort Myers' roster after spending some time rehabbing an injury at the Lee County Sportsplex. He'd replace Fox for the bottom of the 8th, and allow a single to Kainer. Francisco ground into a force out and Frazier doubled him to 3rd. Parker would knock a line drive single to right to plate the pair, ending the Miracle's shut out bid.

Zach Stewart would close out the game for the Reds, while Carlos Gutierrez handled the mop up detail for the Miracle.

Singleton finished up the game 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, and 4 runs; Berg went 3-for-6 a the plate with a triple, 3 runs and 2 RBIs. Woodard was 3-for-4 with 4 runs and 4 RBIs, while Olson and Lehmann finished up 2-for-5 each, Lehmann with a double.

Tintor finished up 0-for-2 with walk, a run and 3 RBIs.

The two teams rematch tomorrow, Tropical Storm Fay permitting for a 7:00 PM game. Joe Testa (1-0, 1.80) will take the start for the Miracle against the Sarasota's Daryl Thompson (0-1, 7.71).

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The New Britain Rock Cats downed the Cleveland affiliated Akron Aeros, 8-2 in Eastern League play Sunday afternoon. David Winfree, Dustin Martin and Danny Valencia all knocked balls over the wall for the Rock Cats, who have won their fifth straight. The Rock Cats are in fifth place in the Northern Division, 21.5 games behind the division leading Trenton Thunder (Yankees). Both New Britain and the Toronto affiliated New Hampshire Fisher Cats have been mathematically eliminated from their league's playoffs.

In the International League, the Rochester Red Wings defeated the Syracuse Chiefs 8-5 Saturday night. Former Miracle Luke Hughes put his third AAA home run of the season over the wall in that contest. The two teams play an evening game on Sunday. With the win, Rochester reached .500 on the season. They are in 3rd place in the North division, 14 games behind the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and virtually eliminated from the playoffs.

The Beloit Snappers fell to the Cedar Rapid Kernals 5-4 on the road. Ramon Santana went yard with his 7th home run of the season for the Snappers. Blake Martin suffered his second loss of the season, pitching .1 inning of relief in the bottom of the 13th inning. Mike McCardell gave up 4 runs, 2 earned on 7 hits and 2 walks in five inning while striking out eight. The Snappers have lost their last three, falling to fifth place in the Western division, six games behind the division leading Burlinton Bees (Kansas City).

Elizabethon, who was idle on Sunday, leads Kingsport by 5 games with 9 left to play in their season. The E-Twins have won their last four, and will likely face the Pulaski Mariners in the Applachian League playoffs.

Former Miracle and Fort Myers resident Tommy Watkins was at Saturday night's Miracle game. A member of the AAA Red Wings, Watkins suffered a separated shoulder that ended his season early. Watkins was hitting .219 for the wings through 76 games before his season came to an end.

With 13 games left to play in the Florida State League regular season, Lakeland (13), Sarasota (14.5) and Clearwater (16) have all been eliminated from the West Division playoffs. Tampa, trailing Dunedin by 11.5 games is the only other candidate left in the West Division as the Miracle have already locked up their playoff berth.

Rookies get'er done for Miracle

Dunedin 1 at Fort Myers 3

W: J. Testa (1-0, 1.80); L: R. Boone (3-4, 5.44); SV: J. Lugo (1)
HR: DUN: M. Liuzza (3).

Injuries have been affecting the Miracle now for quite some time, but Wednesday night saw the Fort Myers Miracle ace, Cole Devries, sidelined with a sore back. Never fear! Southpaw Joe Testa was called up from the Gulf Coast League Twins and the former Wagner College ace performed admirably as a fill in starter.

Jake Mauer had called over prior to the game to say Testa'd never gone more than 2 innings and 30 pitches with the GCL Twins, but I felt that he might surprise Jeff Smith and I was not mistaken. The lefty worked five quick innings, allowing only 1 earned run on 3 hits and a pair of walks while fanning 3. The run came in the top of the fifth, went Matt Liuzza put his 3rd home run of the season over the center field fence.

The Miracle were already on the board though at that point. Juan Portes had hit a single in the bottom of the 4th. Danny Berg then took a double off Randy Boone that drove in Portes. The line drive out to left was deep enough that it was a near triple, with Berg racing for third base, only to be tagged out as he was sliding in. While it was the third out of the inning, Wilson Ramos and Johnny Woodard having both flown out, the run counted, which is what really mattered.

Eli Tintor took a walk in the bottom of the 5th. Garrett Olson doubled to move Tint to 3rd, and he'd be sacrificed in by Steve Singleton. Edward Ovalle followed suite, with his sac-fly to center plating Olson for the insurance run.

Russian Andrei Lobanov, also called up from the Gulf Coast League worked the next two innings for the Miracle, allowing only one run and one walk while fanning 3.

Lobanov would walk Chris Emanuele in the top of the 8th before giving way to Jose Lugo. Brad Emaus would reach on a force attempt, with 2nd baseman Steve Singleton missing the catch. Lugo would then take David Cooper down on strikes before unleashing a wild pitch that advanced the two runners. Cory Patton flew out, but Marcos Cabral drew a walk to load the bags, but Lugo was able to get Anthony Hatch to ground out, ending the inning and stranding the runners.

With one out on the board in the ninth, Adam Calderone doubled. Lugo then hit Jonathan Diaz with a pitch, but he was able to get Emanuele to line out and Eamaus to pop out to end the contest.

Telsa picked up his first FSL win, Lugo recorded his first FSL save.

The Miracle had only five hits on the night, with Olson going 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, a double and a run. Tintor was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run, while Portes and Berg were 1-for-3 each, Portes with a run, Berg with a double and a RBI.

The Lakeland Tigers fly into town now on their next mission. Barring injuries, Alex Burnett (7-5, 3.84) will be on the mound for Thirty Thursday. The game will also feature the "Redneck Olympics" for the amusement of the beer drinking crowd.

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Nicky Lobanov was also recalled from the Gulf Coast League. The two Russians are not related, despite sharing a last name.

Cole's has aggravated an old high school injury. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday, but it is considered to be "nothing major" and that he should be fine with a bit of rest.

Tyler Robertson returned to Minnesota for a check up, but word is that the Twins want to shut him down for the remainder of the season, so that he doesn't re-injure his shoulder trying to return too soon.

Testa's start brought a lot of the GCL boys too the park, so I was able to catch up with a few for autographs. I asked Khol Nanney if I could trouble him for an autograph and he said "no". "No?" "It's no trouble at all ma'am." Oh! One of those nice southern boys!

Danny Santiesteban will be converted to full-time pitching in Fall Instructional League. There isn't any info available for FIL at this time, perhaps next week, but I have been told it will start on September 22nd.

Team USA lot their opening game of the Olympics to the Koreans 8-7. (Recap) Former Miracle Terry Tiffee had a pair of hits in the contest. They rebounded against Team Netherland however, topping the Dutch 7-0. (Recap) Twins prospect Loek Van Mil was to pitch for Team Netherland, but the 7'1" Dutchman was sidelined with an injury before the games even began (twinsbaseball.com). "Loek Van Tall Guy" as he is affectionately known, will likely start next season with the Fort Myers Miracle. Don't forget to check out former Miracle Brian Duensing's blog as he corresponds from the Olympic games.

In order to qualify for the FSL playoffs, a player must be on their respective team's roster as of Friday, August 15. You cannot call players down, only up. If they are added to the FSL roster, they become inelligable to play for any other team in the playoffs. Unless Beloit is magically eliminated from the playoffs by tomorrow, don't expect any help from the corner. By the same token, we won't be able to add Aaron Hicks from the GCL roster as they are currently the wild card team for the GCL playoffs.

Lazy bats lead to Miracle loss

Dunedin 7 at Fort Myers 2

W: N. Starner (3-0, 2.25); L: S. Steedley (0-3, 10.59); SV: C. Polanco (5)
HR: DUN: C. Emanuele (8), M. Cabral (4).

Danny Santiesteban pitched the last two innings, much to the delight of the home town crowd in what was an otherwise unmemorable game at Hammond Stadium Monday night.

Only a fraction of the announced 1.622 people that turned out for Bobblection were still in the crowd when Santiesteban took the mound.

Spencer Steedley made his second start for the Miracle, giving up 5 runs, all earned on six hits a walk while fanning two. "They want him to work on some things that he can only work on as a starter," Matt Fox explained of the change. Oswaldo Sosa has been moved back to the bullpen, not unexpected following Sunday's blow out.

Marcos Cabrel put his 4th home run of the season over the left field wall to lead off the top of the second, the first run Steedley would surrender.

The trouble started in the 3rd when he walked Chris Emanuele. Brad Emaus doubled Emanuele in, then moved to 3rd on a David Cooper single. Cory Patton singled to drive in Emaus. Marcos Cabral took a walk to load the bags, and Anthony Hatch was walked to force in Cooper. Steedley would finally get Al Quintena to ground into a double play to retire the Jays.

Steve Singleton doubled in the bottom of the 3rd then came home on a throwing error by Emaus at 3rd that also allowed Ovalle to reach. The Miracle batted light again, getting only 4 hits over the first six inning and making the opposing pitchers look like future hall of famers.

Emanuele launched is 8th home run of the year over the left field wall in the bottom of the 4th, to finish off the scoring.

Southpaw Nathan Starner worked five innings for Dunedin, allowing only 1 unearned run while scattering five hits and a walk. He'd fan six.

Edward Rodriguez took over the for the 6th allowing a walk to Johnny Woodard and a single to Wilson Ramos.

Things would not heat up again until the bottom of the eighth when Quintana tripled off Santiesteban. A throwing error by shortstop Yancarlos Ortiz turned it into a in-the-park home run as Quintana was awarded an extra base on the play.

On the whole Santiesteban did not do too badly. He hit 94 several times and was regularly throwing 90 on the speed gun. His change up was reportedly around 79 miles per hour. (Yes, Eddie, I have video. Hold your horses, it's uploading as fast as it can.)

Woodard would take a walk in the bottom of the 8th and moved to 2nd on Ramos' single. Eli Tintor's ground ball to single drove in Woodard for the second Miracle run. Dunedin brought in Celson Polanco and the big 6'5", 245 lb hurler put the Miracle to bed, striking out Danny Lehmann and Garrett Olson to finish off the inning.

Emaus would single and Cooper walked in the top of the 9th. Patton flew out to center, but Cabral's gound ball single would be dropped by Ovalle, allowing Emaus to score. It was not called an error and was counted as an earned run. Santiesteban then got both Hatch and Quintana to fly out, send the Jays out to field.

The Miracle made small of any attempted rally in the bottom of the 9th, and the remaining crowd took their bobbleheads and left.

Of the seven hits on the board, Ramos accounted for 3 of them, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double. Ovalle and Tintor were both 1-for-4, Ovalle with a double, Tint with a run batted in. Portes and Singleton finished up 1-for-5, Sing with a double and a run. Woodard, who was 0-for-2 with a pair of walks added a run.

The two teams rematch tomorrow with Matt Fox (6-6, 3.84) going to the hill for the Miracle against Dunedin's A.J. Wideman (4-5, 5.80). Fox says he's on his regular schedule as he last pitched Thursday and they had the double header on Saturday.

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Barack Obama reportedly won the Bobblection, with 5oo bobbles going against John McCain's 419. (Miracle) Not everyone at Hammond Stadium was convinced of Obama's victory however. "We'd like a recount," said a member of Miss A-Miracle's Fun-is-Good Paw-ty. "We noticed a lot of Chads hanging around the stadium, and believe a recount is in order. Oh, sure, Obama brought along Donkey from Shrek as a mascot, but don't be fooled. It's clear that the people's choice for a good time is none other than our one and only Missy."

Other members of the Fun-is-good Paw-ty felt it unfair that their candidate was not represented with a bobblehead. "We believe some votes were bought off by the promise of this toy," said Missy's head of public relations. "Our candidate would have been the landslide winner if the contest had been run fairly."

There was a Pat Neshek watch in effect at the stadium but despite the fact that the "non-existent" fans and autographers were all in attendance and loaded for bear, the former Miracle pitcher never showed. "I can't believe he forgot about the game," said one grapher. "After all, what else is there do to in Fort Myers?"

Twins, Reds split two

Fort Myers 11 at Sarasota 3

W: C. Gutierrez (2-0, 2.35); L: S. Carroll (6-5, 3.51)
HR: SAR: J. Francisco (18).

The Fort Myers Miracle found their bats late in the suspended contest against the Sarasota Reds, coming away with an 11-4 victory against their I-75 rival.

Scott Carroll would replace Rafael Gonzalez, who threw only one inning before the game was interrupted by rain. Juan Portes would come in for the Miracle to replace Brandon Roberts, who had played in the first inning of the suspended game, getting as far as 3rd base before being left stranded.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Danny Berg would take a walk to start out. Danny Lehmann then singled, and a sac-bunt by Yancarlos Ortiz moved the pair of runners. Portes would sacrifice in Berg. Edward Ovalle followed that up with line drive to right to plate Lehmann, giving the Miracle a 2 run lead early.

Wilson Ramos would walk off Carroll in the top of the third. Following a fly out to Johnny Woodard, Eli Tintor tripled to drive in Ramos. Berg singled in Tintor, but Lehmann would ground into a force out that took Berg out at second and Ortiz lined out before they could do anything more with the inning.

Alex Burnett would allow back-to-back singled to Eddy Rodriguez and Yuber Rodriguez. Chris Heisey ground into a force out that took E-Rod out at 3rd and moved Y-Rod to 2nd. After Justin Tordi was retired on strikes, Juan Francsico went yard for his 18th of the season, launching a ball over the left field fence to give the Sara-Reds 3.

Carroll would work five innings, and was still on the mound in the top of the six to issue another walk to Berg. Lehmann singled and Ortiz reached on a force attempt when Carroll mis-threw the ball. Berg would come in, to make it 5-3 Miracle. Portes would pop out before Ovalle doubled to score Lehmann. Steve Singleton's line drive to right plated Ortiz and Ovalle, helped out by a Daniel Perales throwing error. Singleton thought he could make it to 3rd while the Reds tried to recover the ball, but was mistaken, as E-Rod fired the ball to Francisco to take him down at 3rd. Ramos would single before Woodard popped out to send the Reds up to bat.

Burnett worked four, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits while fanning 5. Carlos Gutierrez would come in for the next three, giving up a pair of runs and a walk while striking out 3.

Dan Zeffro would replace Carroll in the top of the 7th, giving up a lead off double to Tintor. Berg singled Tint to 3rd, and Lehmann's sac-fly put him over the plate. Ortiz's ground out moved Berg to second and a Portes line drive saw him over the plate to make the score 10-3, Fort Myers.

The teams would exchange runs in the 8th inning, with Woodard tripling in Ramos for the Miracle and Logan Parker doubling in Francisco for the Reds, but that would pretty much finish off the game.

Gutierrez got the credit for the win, improving to 2-0 on the season. Matt Williams worked the final two innings for the Fort Myers squad.

Berg finished up 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, 3 runs and a run scored. Ramos and Lehmann were both 2-for-4 with a pair of runs each, Ramos with a walk and Lehmann with a RBI. Titnor was 2-for-5 with a double and a triple, a pair of runs and a RBI. Ovalle was 2-for-6 with a run and 2 RBIs. Portes and Woodard were both 1-for-4, Portes with 2 RBIs, Woodard with a walk, a triple and 1 RBI. Singleton was 1-for-5 with a RBI. Ortiz, who finished up 0-for-4 at the plate, chipped in a run.

After a bit of field grooming and a break in which the dogs attending the game got to go walkies or perhaps get a dog of their own to wolf down, the two teams set up for the rematch.

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Fort Myers 0 at Sarasota 8

W: L. Ondrusek (1-5, 4.19); L: D. Guerra (10-7, 4.93)
HR: SAR: J. Francisco (19), L. Parker (4).

The last time the Fort Myers Miracle bats when whiz, wham, boom and they took a big blow out win, they were shut out in the following game. Such as the case at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday as the Miracle forgot to swing in the second game, letting the Sarasota Reds blank them 8-0.

Yuber Rodriguez took a walk off Deolis Guerra to start. One out later, Juan Francisco went yard, for his 19th of the season to put 2 on the board. Todd Frazier would go down on strikes before Logan Parker's 4th of the season, made it 3-0 Reds.

Y-Rod singled in the bottom of the 3rd and came home on a Chris Heisey triple. Francisco then singled in Heisey. Guerra was able to induce Todd Frazier to hit into a double play. He'd then walk Parker before Carson Kainer popped out to end the inning.

Jose Lugo replaced Guerra on the bottom of the sixth. He'd get Justin Tordi to strike out before Jacob Long singled. Y-Rod hit a follow up single and Heisey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Francisco hit into a force out that took Long out at home, but left the bases load. Frazier doubled to drive in two. Parker and Kainer each drew a walk to force in the 8th run.

Whit Robbins was 2-for-3 with a double for the light hitting Miracle. Juan Portes was 1-for-3 with a double. Tintor was also 1-for-3, good for the One hit wonder of the game title.

Logan Ondrusek picked up the win for Sarasota during a bull pen start. He worked five innings for his first win of the year.

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There was a posse report this morning at Gulf Coast League that Pat Neshak would be pitching for the Miracle on Monday. I showed a great deal of doubt about that one, so it was amended to "he'd be at the game" in some capacity or other. LEN3 is reporting in his blog that Neshak as begun a throwing program but that he won't work himself up to throwing from a mound until later this month.

It's possible, depending upon his progress, that Neshak might pitch in Fall Instructional League, then get ready for 2009 spring training. The Twins probably won't want to risk his health by pushing for his recovery too soon.

On a more immediate note, Tyler Robertson played a session long catch this morning prior to the GCL game. He'll may take a GCL start by the end of the next week if all goes as planned.

I wasn't keeping score, but I believe the GCL Orioles were leading when their game against the Twins at the Lee County Sportsplex was suspended due to rain and lightning in the area. Joe Testa had just finished pitching the top of the fifth, starter Martire Garcia was struggling with his control early in the contest.

It's possible the game resumed - I don't think it rained all that long - but it did chase the very small crowd away. I left at that point as well. The GCL Twins play on the road tomorrow against the GCL Reds, while the GCL Red Sox host the division leading Pirates at the City of Palms Complex.

Note: Ah...they did resume! The Twins rallied back for a 5-3 win! Way to go Twins!

Evidently, the GCL has gone to a wild card format. There will be no more buy for the highest ranked team. Instead they highest ranked team will play the wild card - the team with the best record after the Division Leaders. At this point, that would be the Twins, but not if they keep taking losses to the O's the Pirates.

Miracle take two from Tampa

Fort Myers 2 at Tampa 1

W: M. Fox (6-6, 3.84); L: Z. McAllister (6-6, 2.17); SV: A. Slama (23)
HR: FTM: W. Robbins (4).

The Fort Myers Miracle two-run lead would stand through nine innings as they hung on in the completion of the suspended game to defeat the Tampa Yankees, 2-1.

Edward Ovalle would single in the top of the first with one out on the board. He'd be caught stealing however, so there'd be no one on base when Whit Robbins launched his 4th home run of the year over the short porch in right field to give the Miracle one. Wilson Ramos then drew a walk and Johnny Woodard was hit by a pitch. Eli Tintor's line drive plated Ramos for the Miracle's 2nd run.

Spencer Steedley worked the first three innings, giving up only 1 hit and fanning a pair. Matt Fox would take over in the fourth. After a fly out to Eduardo Nunez, Fox allowed a single to Kevin Smith. Josh Kreuzer would fly out before Seth Fortenberry doubled to drive in Smith.

Fox would allow only one more hit, a single to Fortenberry in the bottom of the 7th. He'd strike out 4 over the next five innings before Anthony Slama came in to collect his 23rd save of the season.

Aside from the singles to Ovalle and Tintor, and the home run to Robbins, Steve Singleton would finish up 1-for-4 for the only other Miracle hit.

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Fort Myers 1 at Tampa 0

W: C. Devries (9-8, 2.85); L: E. Soto (2-3, 4.91); SV: B. Erickson (1)
HR: None.

The Miracle would also prevail in the second game, which was shortened to seven innings. Cole Devries would scatter 4 hitts and 4 walks over five innings, striking out only 1. Jose Lugo worked the next 1.1, with Blair Erickson picking up his first save of the season on by fanning 2 in .2 innings worth of work.

Edward Ovalle would walk and one out later, Juan Portes was hit by a pitch. The pair then stole 3rd and 2nd respectively. Johnny Woodard would reach on a fielder's choice that took Ovalle out at home. Grant Duff would head out to the mound to replace Tampa starter Edgar Soto, and Danny Berg would reach on a force attempt then Eduardo Nunez bobbled the ball at short. Portes would score on the play for the lone Miracle run before Eli Tintor went down on strikes.

Portes finished up 2-for-2 at the plate with the run. Tintor and Woodard were both 1-for-3, Tint with a double, and Brandon Roberts rounded out the hitting, going 1-for-2.

Next up, the Miracle head over to Sarasota for three against the Reds. Friday's 7:00 PM contest will feature Alex Burnett (7-5, 3.74) on the mound for the Miracle, while the Reds will let Rafael Gonzalez (5-8, 6.42) handle their pitching. The Miracle return home on Monday to start a 3 game set against the Dunedin Blue Jays.

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Miracle shut out by Reds

Sarasota 3 at Fort Myers 0

W: R. Gonzalez (5-8, 6.42); L: A. Burnett (7-5, 3.74); SV: L. Ondrusek (1)
HR: None.

Sarasota played a 15 inning game last night, defeating Lakeland 3-2. Today, the Fort Myers Miracle looked more like the team that played 15 innings, as they allowed themselves to be shut out by a strong Sarasota Reds pitching staff.

Alex Burnett worked a solid seven innings for the home town team, allowing only 1 run, earned on six hits while striking out 3.

Todd Frazier would take a double off Burnett in the top of the 4th inning. One out later, he'd be plated by Carson Kainer's line drive single to right. Eli Tintor would try to make the play at the plate, rather than go for the cut off man, an error in judgment, but it nearly paid off. Unfortunately, close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and nuclear weapons.

By the fourth inning, I had discovered the drink rail and party deck, a lovely innovation here at the Bill where there were big shady umbrellas to hide under. So I had a great view of Eli making that throw.

I also a wonderful view of him overrunning Juan Francisco's triple out to center as he collided with the wall and Danny Santiesteban was left to run down the ball on the grass. This lead to a two runs in the top of the 8th. Chris Heisey had singled his way onto base and scored on Francisco's hit. Francisco would come home on Frazier's sacrifice to center.

Jose Mijares would be on the mound at the time, and aside from that little fiasco, pitched quite well indeed.

The Miracle were sluggish at the plate however. Steve Singleton would go 2-for-4. Danny Berg was 1-for-4 with a double, Tintor was 1-for-3 and Garrett Olson was 1-for-2. Tintor had the only walk for the team, although Olson and Woodard would both be hit by pitches.

Berg's double for the Miracle came in the bottom of the 2nd and Tintor would single him to 3rd. Danny Lehmann would reach on on a fielder's choice that took Berg out at home. Danny Santiesteban's ground out put Tint on 3rd and Lehmann on 2nd, at which point Olson would get plunked by a pitch to load the bags. Roberts would ground out however to end the inning.

Singleton's grounder in the 3rd, a force attempt that got Woodard on base, and a walk to Tintor loaded the bags in the 3rd as well, but Lehmann would go down on strikes to end the inning.

The Miracle will look for a measure of revenge Monday as Deolis Guerra (10-6, 4.89) will head up to the mound on Cheaper by the Gallon night against Sarasota's Scott Carroll (6-4, 3.30). First pitch is due out a 7:05. As the price of gas has gone down recently, so too has the price of beer, a box seat ticket and selected food items through out the stadium been reduced.

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I had been trying to sound out Matt Fox to find out what the major difference was between Low-A and High-A, but he wasn't particularly useful about it. He said the batters are a little better, but that's about it. "I'm giving up more runs, but I'm also striking out more," he said, which in his mind equates to him being about the same in both leagues. I am curious in part because Spencer Steedley has been struggling so at this level, and in part because I'm trying to judge the potential of the players in the rotation in Beloit in making the jump to Fort Myers next season.

5-run fifth inning dooms Miracle

Fort Myers 6 at Dunedin 7

W: R. Gonzalez (9-3, 3.56); L: D. Guerra (10-6, 4.89); SV: C. Falkenbach (20)
HR: None.

Deolis Guerra would not make it out of the fifth inning, giving up 5 runs - a total of 7, 6 earned - on 9 hits and 4 walks. He'd strike out only one.

As a result, the Dunedin Blue Jays took a five run lead and were able to hold off the Fort Myers Miracle until the end of the contest, winning 7-6 at Knology Park.

Steve Singleton opened the game with a walk, then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch by Reider Gonzalez. After Danny Lehmann popped out, Wilson Ramos doubled Singleton in for an early Fort Myers lead.

Chris Emanuele singled in the bottom of the inning, then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch by Guerra. Brad Eamau took a walk and a passed ball by Lehmann advanced the pair. Cory Patton's ground out would score Emanuele, tying up the game.

In the bottom of the 2nd Adam Calderone walked, then stole 2nd. Al Quintana singled to move him to 3rd, and a Luis Sanchez sac-fly plated him for the Jay's second run of evening.

Juan Portes reached on a fielding error by Brad Emaus and moved to 2nd on Garrett Olson's single. Eli Tintor singled as well, loading the bags. Danny Santiesteban then hit into a force out that scored Portes to tie up the game again.

Patton lead off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. Brian Dopirak singled and Jesus Gonzalez doubled to plate the pair of runners. Marcos Cabral singled to bring in Gonzalez and Calderone tripled in Cabrial. At the point field manager brought Spencer Steedley into the game, replacing Guerra. Steedley allowed a single to Quitara which drove in Calderone but finally found an out as he got Sanchez to ground into a force out. Emanuele wold single before Emaus and Patton both ground out to end the inning with runners on second and third.

The Twins now had a lot of catch up work to do, so they got to it with Johnny Woodard and Portes hitting back-to-back singles. The Jays would then call for a pitching change bringing Chad Blackwell into the game to replace the outgoing Gonzalez. Blackwell would get Olson to ground into a force out that took Woodard down at 3rd. Tintor would fly out before Santiesteban singled to score Portes. Yancarlos Ortiz would reach on a throwing error that also plated Olson before Singleton popped out to finish off the top of the sixth.

In the top fo the 7th, Lehmann would be plunked by a pitch. Ramos and Woodard hit back-to-back singles to load the bags. Portes would go down on strikes, while Olson sacrificed in Lehmann. Tintor would go down on strikes as well to send the Jays up to bat again.

Steedley would work two innings for the Miracle, allowing just two hits. Matt Williams had the hill for the seventh and the eighth innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk, but otherwise keeping the Jays under control.

The top of the 9th would be do or die for the Miracle, and Wooodard opened up the crucial inning, going down on strikes. Portes would ground out before Whit Robbins was brought in as a pinch runner and drew a walk. Tintor and Santiesteban hit back-to-back singles score Robbins before Yancarlos Ortiz ground out, ending the contest.

Ramos, Woodard, Tintor and Santiesteban were all 2-for-5, Ramos with a double and a run scored and Santiesteban with 3 RBIs. Singleton was 1-for-4 with a run, and Olson was 1-for-3 with a run and a RBI. Portes was 1-for-5 with a pair of runs.

Dunedin claimed the series, 2 games to one. The Miracle take Wednesday off before returning home to Hammond Stadium on Thursday to face the Clearwater Threshers on a Thirsty Thursday. The Mighty Gonzalez with will on hand to perform stupid human tricks,

Oswaldo Sosa has the mound for the Miracle. Game time is 7:05 PM, gates open at 6:00.

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Miracle hold off Jays for 8-7 win

Fort Myers 8 at Dunedin 7

W: A. Burnett (7-4, 3.89); L: R. Boone (2-2, 5.94); SV: A. Slama (21)
HR: FTM: W. Ramos (11), D. Santiesteban (4).

Despite holding a 3 run lead going into the 9th inning, the Fort Myers Miracle were fortunate enough to be able to hold on long enough to get a win over the Dunedin Blue Jays.

If they are going to have a successful playoff run, they are going to have to find way to win without the bullpen.

Juan Portes singled his way onto base in the top of the 2nd, then stole 2nd and used a wild pitch by Randy Boone to go to 3rd. Eli Tintor then singled, plating Portes. After a pop out to Garrett Olson, Danny Santiesteban's bat went BOOM, and sent his 4th home run ball of the year over the left field wall to add two more to the total.

Whit Robbins singled in the top of the 3rd and Wilson Ramos homered - his 11th of the year - to give the Miracle a 5-0 lead. After a ground out to Johnny Woodard, Portes doubled and Tintor singled. Garrett Olson's ground out moved the pair, and a Santiesteban fly ball single brought them home.

With two outs on the board in the top of the 4th, Brad Emaus doubled then came home on a Cory Patton single, putting one on the board for Dunedin.

They added to it in the bottom of the 4th with Anthony Hatch taking a walk and Marcos Cabral getting hit by an Alex Burnett pitch. Following a fly out to Matthew Liuzza, Adam Calderone singled to plate Hatch. Luis Sanches would go down on strikes before former Twin Shannon Stewart, playing on a rehab assignment, singled to plate Cabral and Calderone.

Jose Mijares would take over for Burnett in the bottom of the sixth, and following a pair of ground outs, allowed a double to Calderone and a single to Sanchez to add one more to the Jays total.

In the top of the 8th, Tintor doubled, moved to 3rd on Olson's sac bunt, and was sacrificed in by Santiesteban.

Anthony Slama has been struggling a bit of late, and Monday night exemplified that. He'd walk Calderon and, after a ground out to Sanchez, allowed a pair of singles to Emanuele and Emaus which loaded the bags. Patton's sac fly plated Calderone and a Brian Dopirak single drove in Emanuele. Hatch would go down on strikes though with the Jays still down by one and the the tying run on 3rd.

Santiestban was 2-for-2 with a walk and five (5!) RBIs. Tintor was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and a RBI, while Ramos was 3-for-5 with a run and 2 RBIs. Robbins and Portes were both 2-for-4, Robbins with a walk and a run and Portes with a pair of runs. Steve Singleton was the one hit wonder, going 1-for-5 in the contest.

The rubber match of the series is Tueday evening at Knology Park. Fort Myers will pit Deolis Guerra (10-5, 4.56) against Dunedin's Reidier Gonzalez (8-3, 3.58) for the 7:00 PM start.

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From MiLB.com:

THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Miracle had a rough week, winning just two of seven games, including a four-game losing stretch. The string of losses dropped Fort Myers into a losing record and fourth place in the FSL West, 7 1/2 games behind division-leading Dunedin.

WHO'S HOT, WHO'S NOT: SP Cole Devries has been a strikeout machine. In his last 11 innings, the University of Minnesota product has 13 strikeouts. ... SS Yancarlos Ortiz has just five hits in his last 29 plate appearances for a .172 average.

PLAYER TO WATCH: 2B Steven Singleton has been hitting well in recent games. The University of San Diego product has a home run and eight RBIs in his last 10 games while batting .333. ... SS Yancarlos Ortiz is struggling with just five hits in his last 29 at-bats for a .172 clip.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: One of the bright spots of a dismal week for the Miracle was 1B Whit Robbins. In a 9-7 home win over St. Lucie on July 20, the Georgia Tech product had four RBIs, collecting three with one swing as he homered to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Miracle a 5-4 lead. In the seventh, Robbins walked with the bases loaded for his fourth RBI.

Miracle, Threshers split

Fort Myers 4 at Clearwater 2 - 15 Innings

W: M. Williams (1-2, 6.63); L: B. Pfinsgraff (0-1, 6.17); SV: S. Steedley (1)
HR: None.

In the end, it would take only one more inning to settle the game that was suspended under the Florida State League Curfew rule on Friday night.

The game had been tied at two each when it was suspended. To recap:

With two outs on the board in the top of the 2nd inning, Danny Lehmann drew a walk off Joe Savery. Danny Santiesteban laced a line drive to left to plate the Miracle catcher. A missed catch by Orlando Guevara behind the Thresher plate saw Santiesteban home as well to give the Miracle two.

John Urick walked off Miracle starter Ozzie Sosa in the bottom half of the stanza. Kevin Maher singled him to second and Michael Taylor hit into a force out to put him at 3rd. Guevara then singled to bring him in. A wild pitch would put Thresher runners on second and third, but Sosa got Fidel Hernandez to ground out to end the inning.

It would stay that way until the bottom of the ninth, when Anthony Slama gave up a single to Taylor. Gary Cates sac-bunt moved him and pinch hitter Alan Robbins reached on a throwing error by Garrett Olson. A sac-fly by Hernandez plated Taylor to tie up the game. Quintin Berry singled and advanced to 2nd on defensive indifference before Slama would get Robert Watson to ground out to end the inning.

When the game resumed on Saturday, Ben Pfinsgraff would get on the mound for the Threshers. Eli Tintor hit a single to 3rd, then moved on a sac bunt by Garrett Olson. Danny Lehmann would hit into a ground out, but Danny Santiesteban singled to plate Tintor. A missed catch by Tuffy Gosewisch allowed the speedy Santiesteban to make his way to 3rd. Yancarlos Ortiz then singled the Miami native in for the insurance run. Ortiz would steal 2nd and attempt to come home on an Edward Ovalle line drive to right, but he would be tagged out at the plate as Gus Milner relayed the ball into Gosewisch for the third out.

Spencer Steedley replaced Matt Williams on the mound for the Miracle, and got Quintin Berry out on strikes. Robert Watson took a double off of him, and moved to 3rd on Milner's ground out. But John Urick would hit into a ground out as well, finishing the contest.

Santiesteban was 3-for-7 with a double, a pair of runs and a RBI. Ortiz and Lehmann were 2-for-5 each, Oritz with a walk, a double and a RBI, and Lehmann with a pair of walks and a run. Ovalle was 4-for-8, all singles. Berg (1-for-7), Singleton and Tintor (1-for-6), and Ramos (1-for-5) all had singles as well, Sing and Tint with a walk each, and Ramos with a pair of walks. Tintor also added a run. Only Garrett Olson would go without a hit in the game.

Sosa worked 4 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits and a walk while striking out one. Jose Mijares, Blair Erickson and Anthony Slama each worked a pair of innings, Slama allowing 1 unearned run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 1. Chris Gutierrez worked 1 inning, allowing a hit and walk while striking out one, and Matt Williams went in for the long haul at the end of Saturday's game, allowing 3 hits and 3 walks while fanning 3 over three innings to pick up the win. Steedley got the save, his first of the season in a Miracle uniform.

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Fort Myers 6 at Clearwater 11

W: A. Carpenter (3-3, 2.98); L: M. Fox (5-6, 4.25); SV: D. Brauer (2)
HR: FTM: G. Olson (2).

In the regularly scheduled game, the Miracle would hit well, but the depleted bullpen got to them in the sixth, as Spencer Steedley allowed 5 runs, all earned, on 4 hits and walk without recording an out in the sixth inning.

Steve Singleton doubled to get the game underway and following a line out to Edward Ovalle, a Whit Robbins' fly ball to right move Sing to 3rd. Robbins would go to second on the throw and Wilson Ramos would scored the pair with his 17th double of the season. Johnny Woodard, who had been activated from rehab with the GCL Twins at 10:00 AM, singled to move Ramos to 3rd, and Danny Berg's soft fly ball to right drove in Ramos.

Quintin Berry took a walk from Matt Fox in the bottom half of the set, then stole 2nd base. With Tuffy Gosewisch out on strikes and John Urick out on a pop up, Berry then stole 3rd. Michael Taylor singled to drive him in to give the Threshers one.

Berry would be bothersome again in the bottom of the third, singling his way onto the bags, then, one out later, stealing 2nd. Berry's 39 stolen bases does not lead the Florida State League, by the way, that honor goes to Brevard County's Darren Ford, who has 48. Urick doubled Berry in, and Fox would hit Michael Taylor with a pitch. Gus Milner took a double off of Fox to drive in Urick. Alan Robbins walked before Garry Cates singled Taylor in. Milner was greedy and tried to go home as well, but was taken out a the plate by catcher Wilson Ramos.

Garrett Oslon homered in the top of the 4th to tie the contest back up.

Gosewisch would single and Taylor double in the bottom of the 5th to put the Threshers up on top. Then came the less then memorable sixth.

Fidel Hernandez singled and Jesus Villegas Andino walked. Barry singled to load up the bags, and Gosewisch took a double shot to bring in a pair. Urick followed that up with a double shot of his two to chase in two more at which point field manager Jeff Smith took Steedley off the mound in favor of his new bullpen ace, Danny Santiesteban. The outfielder would allow a single to Taylor but induced Milner to hit into a double play which had the unfortunate side effect of scoring Urick. He'd then Alan Robbins down on strikes to get out of the inning.

The Miracle showed their new ace some love in the top of seventh, with Danny Berg singing off Danny Brauer with one out on the board. Eli Tintor walked, and Olson reached on a fielding error to load the bags. Yancarlos Ortiz ground into a force out that took Berg out at home, but Steve Singleton would get plunked by a pitch to force in Tintor. Edward Ovalle singled out to right to drive in Olson before Whit Robbins ground out, cutting short the Miracle rally.

Santiesteban would use three straight outs to get Clearwater out in the eighth, but he was tiring. Smith would make a move to keep Garrett Olson in the game as pitcher and moved Berg in from left to cover 3rd. Whit Robbins, who had been DHing, moved to take over first and Woodard came out of the game to be replaced by Lehmann, who went into left field. Olson would strike out Berry, but allowed a triple to Gosewisch. Urick singled to score the Thresher's catcher, but Olson got Taylor out on strikes before walking Milner. Pinch hitter Kevin Mahar would fly out to end the inning.

Olson might have a career ahead of him in the National League as he singled in the top of the 9th, but got no support from his fellow batters with Singleton grounding into a force out to end the contest.

Ovalle finished up 2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Singleton and Robbins were both 2-for-4, Sing with a walk, a double, a run and a RBI, and Robbins with a walk and a run. Berg and Olson were both 2-for-5, Berg with a RBI and Olson with a pair of runs and a RBI, including the home run. Ramos, Woodard and Ortiz were all 1-for-5, Ramos with a run and a pair of RBIs. Tintor was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run.

Fort Myers now hops on the bus and heads just down the road to Knology Park to face the Dunedin Blue Jays Sunday afternoon for a 1:00 PM game. Cole Devries (7-7, 2.69) will take the start for the Miracle in a potential preview of the upcoming West Division Playoff round.

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Rain Brings out the worst in everyone

St. Lucie 3 at Fort Myers 2

W: C. Hoorelbeke (1-3, 4.91); L: A. Slama (3-1, 0.67); SV: R. Coultas (4)
HR: None.

Rain broke over Hammond Stadium about the same time as the game started so Alex Burnett took to the mound in a light drizzle, much, I'm sure to the his disgust. As you know, he's a California boy and it never rains in the California.

Peeter Ramos singled , then stole 2nd. A wild pitch by Burnett due a rain slick ball moved Ramos to 3rd and he'd score on Ruben Tejada's ground out.

There was a brief 13 minute rain delay around the bottom of the 2nd, or the top of the 3rd, during which time the field didn't quite get tarped before the rain slackened off again and play resumed.

Shaw Bowman doubled in the top of the 5th, then moved to 3rd on D.J. Wabick's ground out. A ground out by Brahiam Maldonado plated him to put the Mets up by two.

The Miracle took one back when Jan Portes singled out to left, then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch by Nicholas Carr. Danny Berg would reach on a fielding error by Ramos that put Portes at 3rd. After Eli Tintor went down on strikes and Danny Lehmann lined out, Yancarlos Ortiz singled out to right to drive in Portes for the first Fort Myers run.

Things turned ugly in the bottom of the ninth when Emary Frederick drilled Juan Portes with a pitch. The pair exchanged words before Met's catcher Josh Thole stepped in and shoved Portes. That started a general brawl as the benches cleared and punches were exchanged. A total of eight players, four from each team, would be ejected from the game, including Portes. Danny Santiesteban took over at first base as the pinch runner for Portes, and would advance to 2nd when Garrett Olson drew a walk off Casey Hoorelbeke. Tintor then singled to plate Santiesteban, tying up the game. Lehmann lined into a double play that sent the game into overtime.

Thole - who somehow managed not to get ejected but should have been - drew a walk off Anthony Slama with one out on the board in the top of the 11th. Luis Rivera reached on a force attempt when Ortiz missed a catch. After Wabick went down on strikes, Maldonando singled to score Thole. The Mets would turn to Ryan Coultas to close the game, and he did so by striking out Santiesteban and Olson and getting Tintor to ground out.

The Miracle now head over to Bright House Networks Field to take on the Clearwater Threshers for a three game series. Deolis Guerra (10-4, 4.42) will handle the pitching for the Miracle. Thursday's gametime is 7:00 PM, and the play-by-play can be heard on WMYR AM-1410 and WCNZ AM-1660 with the voice of the Miracle, Sean Fox replaying clips of Wednesday's night's main event for you.

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From MiLB.com:

THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Miracle won just two of five games last week with three games being rained out, including a doubleheader at Daytona on July 19. Fort Myers is now tied for third place in the FSL West with Sarasota, six games behind division-leading Dunedin and a half game behind second-place Lakeland.

WHO'S HOT, WHO'S NOT: 2B Steve Singleton is getting the job done lately with 10 hits in his last 33 at-bats for a .323 average while hitting eight RBIs and belting two homers. ... LF Juan Portes is begging for a few hits. He has a grand total of two hits in his last 34 plate appearances for an .059 average.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RP Jose Lugo is strong coming out of the Miracle bullpen of late. The left-hander from the Dominican Republic has not given up an earned run in his last 11 1/3 innings pitched. In that same span he has 11 strikeouts and two walks.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Singleton played a key role in the Miracle's 10-4 win at Daytona on July 18. The San Francisco native had four RBIs on two hits. The University of San Diego product plated a run in the top of the fourth with a single to center. In the fifth, Singleton cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "It seems totally different from extended spring training," 2B Yangervis Solarte told the Fort Myers News-Press of how he has adjusted to the promotion. "When I first got here, I felt pretty good. It seemed like I was just playing baseball. Then I started to see how difficult the league is. Not difficult, but how strong it is. I think I might have learned a couple of more things. But I'm comfortable enough in my abilities to play every day, wherever they put me."

Blind man rules: Breaks go to Hammerheads

Jupiter 8 at Fort Myers 4

W: D. McCall (4-2, 3.93); L: C. Devries (7-7, 2.79)
HR: JUP: L. Morrison (8), S. Cousins (6), S. McDougall (6). FTM: D. Berg (5), E. Tintor (5).

Home plate umpire Jason Cooksey awarded a win to the Jupiter Hammerheads Monday night. He is either legal blind, or he was paid off by Jupiter. I believe it was the latter, as his buddy, Kelvin Bultron appeared to be in on the deal.

Cole Devries took the start for the Miracle and the fact that he didn't actually throw the ball down in disgust and stalk off the field shows what a true professional he is. It all started with Cooksey's inability to tell the difference between a ball and a strike.

Cooksey awarded walks to the first two batters Devries faced. Logan Morrison then laced a line drive to left to load up the bags. Vasili Spanos' line drive scored Scott Cousins and the Miracle took Greg Burns out at home on the play. I'm surprised he actually called the Marlins' prospect out, despite it being clearly obvious that he was, in view of the events yet to come. Kevin Randel then flew out to left and little Yancarlos Ortiz, playing at 3rd base, made one of the gutsiest defensive plays I've ever seen at that position to keep Morrison pinned at 3rd. Spike McDougal (what a great name!) flew out to right fielder Eli Tintor to retire the side.

Mr. Tintor has a bit of a sore throat and is feeling a little under the weather. I found that amusing as I am feeling the same way and I haven't been kissing on him at all. I think it's just the nasty, rainy, weather has us all feeling a bit on the crappy side.

Logan Morrison would take Devries deep in the top of the 3rd going over the right field wall to make it 2-0 Hammerheads. Following a ground out to Spanos, Randel singled out to center. McDougall then fouled out - except that no - Cooksey called it a home run. Aside from the fact that everyone on the first base side of the stadium could clearly see it was a foul and aside from the fact that the ball was found in the field BEHIND the bullpen, clearly and well to the left of the foul pole, Cooksey ruled it was a home run. Jeff Smith argued but to no avail, getting himself tossed. The crowd of 1,326 - all 325 that were sitting on the first base side, plus the other 1,001 that were sitting in sections 113 and 114 all argued with the umpire. Happily, he does not have the power to eject the fans. However, just to show his disapproval of the way the crowd was now behaving, he allowed Jacob Blackwood to walk. Chris Hatcher ground into a force out and Guillermo Martinez was called out on walks.

(On a side note, Cooksey first ruled McDougal fouled, but then changed his mind after Jupiter field manager Brandon Hyde walked over to remind Cooksey he'd paid him off to call the game in favor of the Hammerheads.)

Derell McCall replaced Kyle Winters in the bottom of the stanza. Winters probably decided he didn't want to be on the same field with Cooksey - although Cooksey was ruling the Marlin's favor - and refuse to go back out.

Adam Everett ground out, before Steve Singleton knocked a line drive to right to get on board. The blind man then gave Wilson Ramos a walk. Whit Robbins hit a single to load the bags. Edward Ovalle then tried for a grand slam, but instead went down one, two, three, on strikes. Juan Portes would be hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Danny Berg would go down swinging.

Cousins singled then moved to 2nd on Burns sac bunt. He advanced to 3rd on Morrison's ground out and Spanos singled to score Cousins.

It had started to rain by this point and much of the 1,001 fans in section 113 and 114 tried to cram themselves under the shallow overhang up in the rafters.

Matthew Williams came out for the fifth inning and would keep the Hammerheads off the board.

Wilson Ramos singled in the bottom of the fifth and Whit Robbins put one over the left field fence that was immediately ruled a foul ball, and instead settled for double to center to score Ramos.

Despite being under the weather, Eli Tintor nailed one over the left field wall for his fifth home run of the season. It would be a solo shot, off reliever Brad Stone who had just come in to take over for McCall.

Blackwood and Hatcher both singled in the top of the seventh and, one out later, Cousins belted a ball over the center field wall to add three more to the Hammerhead's total. There would be no discussion this time, as there isn't a foul pole anywhere near center field.

Danny Berg would get this home run in the bottom of the 8th to keep him tied with Tintor for five each.

Devries was give then loss by Cooksey and McCall got the win. Ramos was 2-for-3 in the game with a pair of walks and a run, Berg and Tintor were both 2-for-4 with home runs (which meant a run and a run batted in for each). Robbins was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Singleton was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and a run.

The Miracle take All-star Tuesday off and then head out on the road for a four-game set at historic Jackie Robinson Stadium against the Daytona Cubs.

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Former Miracle Justin Morneau defeated a tired Josh Hamilton 5-3 in the final round of MLB's All-Star Home Run Derby, but it was Hamilton who was the story of the night. Hamilton hit a record 28 home runs in the first round of the contest before running out of gas. That broke Bobby Abreau's mark of 24 home runs set in the 2005 derby at Detroit's Comerica Park.

"It does seem kind of unfair that he didn't get to win the whole thing," Morneau was quoted as saying an an associated press article. "Anyone who was here won't forget that performance."

Morneau, the first Twin ever to win the Home Run Derby, hit a total of 22 home runs during the contest. He hit 8 in the first round to tie Astros first baseman Lance Berkman for second place behind Hamilton. He'd slug another 9 over the wall in the second round.

"I think it's good for kids growing up in Canada to see there's something we do other than play hockey, and we can do it at this level," Morneau was quoted as saying on twinsbaseball.com.

Morneau, Joe Mauer - another Miracle Alumni - and pitcher Joe Nathan will represent the Twins in Tuesday's MLB All-Star game at Yankee Stadium in New York, NY. The game will be aired on the FOX network and fans can vote online for the game's MVP. Visit www.mlb.com for more detials.

The First Miracle Mystery Night Question was "Who stole 2nd base?" The rather lame answer "The lead off hitter" was guessed by an out-of-towner who won a number of prizes from various local establishments. This was another promotion where pieces of paper were hung on the wall all over the stadium.

I waited about an hour and half - and was trampled on by innumerable kids - to get Adam Everett's autograph. Sort of makes me pine for the good old days when RonDL was rehabbing for the Miracle. However, I did get to hear the whole story of how Anthony Slama got his dog, David Bowie. As for the Johnny Cash music..."I love Johnny Cash," Slama explained.

There was a 15 minute rain delay to start the game, and portions of the contest were played in a light drizzle. The joke in the clubhouse was "I'm not playing any more games with the tarp on the field!"

Rochester Red Wing slugger Randy Ruiz was named the Twins minor league player for the month of June. Ruiz hit .360 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 29 games and had a .437 on-base percentage over that stretch.

Tyler Robertson says he has not yet heard back on the results of his MRI. I reminded him the internet is holding it's collective breath on this one and that bloggers are over the place are quite concerned his arm is going to fall off. "Noooooooooo!" he laughed. "It's nothin' like that." Rene Tosoni has now adopted Robertson's hair style - or perhaps I should say lack there of. Tyler keeps his head shaved, and I can't for the life of me, imagine what he would look like with hair.

Miracle bats for distance in win over Vero Beach

Fort Myers 6 at Vero Beach 3

W: M. Fox (5-3, 3.78); L: R. Morse (2-5, 3.80); SV: A. Slama (18)
HR: FTM: J. Portes (8), D. Berg (4), E. Tintor (4).

Three Fort Myers Miracle players went yard while Matt Fox continued to throw well in a starting roll, as the Miracle downed the Vero Beach Devil Rays, 6-3.

On a side note, the Miracle received Spencer Steedley from the Beloit Snappers. The lefty reliever posted a 5-3 record with the Low A Snappers with a 2.14 ERA in 46.1 innings pitched. Steedley was the Twins 25th round pick in the 2007 First-year player draft. He spend 2007 with the Elizabethton Twins of the Appalachian League, where the 6'2" Charlotte, NC, native assembled a 2-3 record with a 2.92 ERA in 37.0 innings pitched.

In the top of the second inning, Ryan Morse replaced Al Reyes who had been making a rehab start with the club while recovering from tendinitis. With one out on the board, Danny Berg would go yard over the center field fence. Following a ground out to Steve Singleton, Eli Tintor blasted a ball over the left field fence. It as the fourth home run of the year for both players. Danny Santiesteban followed that up with a single, but would be caught stealing for the Miracle's 3rd out.

Nevin Ashley and and Ryan Royster took back-to-back singles from Fox. Following a strike out by Neil Walton, Ashley scored on Matt Field's ground out.

Juan Portes went yard, his 8th of the season, in the top of the 3rd, making it 3-1 Miracle.

Singles by Cesar Suarez, Ashley and Royster gave the Rays another run in the bottom fo the 4th. The Miracle took Ashley out on a fielder's choice at the plate. Fox then got Fields to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Tintor double in the top of the fifth, then scored on a Yancarlos Ortiz single to make it 4-2 Miracle.

Joey Callendar and Matt Hall knocked singles in the bottom of the fifth, then moved on a Garrett Groce sac bunt. John Matulia's line drive would score Callender, and Matulia would be taken out trying to make it to second. Suarez then lined out to end the Rays threat.

Ovalle singled and Wilson Ramos doubled in the top of the sixth before Kevin Lynn came into replace Morse. Lynn would unleash a wild pitch that scored Ovalle, while Berg's grounder to left plated Ramos to make it 6-3 Miracle.

Tintor was 2-for-3 with a walk, a pair of runs, and a run scored. Ortiz was also 2-for-3 with a run scored. Ovalle, Ramos and Berg all finish up 2-for-4 with a run, Berg with 2 RBIs as well.

Blair Erickson worked 2 innings of relief, striking out 1. Steedley worked .1 inning in the bottom of the eighth, walking Matulia and advancing him to 2nd on a wild pitch before getting Suarez to ground out. He'd then hit Ashley with a pitch, and Miracle field manager Jeff Smith got Anthony Slama out of the pen to finish of the game.

Game three of the series is Wednesday night at 7:00 PM with Miracle ace Cole Devries (6-6, 2.59) on the mound against the Rays Wilton Noel (1-1, 3.78).

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The Beloit Snappers and GCL Twins were off on Tuesday. The Snappers played their annual golf tournament before beginning a 4-game series against the Fort Wayne Wizards. The Appalachian League Elizabethton Twins were rained to Joe O'Brien field. They will play a pair on Wednesday against the Kingsport Mets starting at 6:00 PM.

DSL Twins 2 at DSL Diamondbacks 3

The DSL Twins dropped a close one on the road as the DSL Diamondbacks scored in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the contest.

Carlos Vasquez walked in the top of the 3rd, then was replaced by pinch runner Xavier Gonzalez. Gonzalez stole 2nd, but then had to wait while Juan Blanco flew out and Willy Gil struck out. Danny Santana took a walk before Oswaldo Arcia singled to drive in Gonzalez for the first Twins run.

In the top of the 7th Jean Carlos Mercedes reached on a throwing error, and move to 2nd on Jairo Rodriguez's single. A double by Blanco drove him in for the second of the Twins two runs

Arcia was 2-for-4 in the game with a RBI. Rodriguez had a single and Blanco a double for the only other two Twins hits.

Still no results for Monday's contest against the DSL Rockies. I'm assuming it was rained out at this point. The DSL Twins host the DSL Orioles Wednesday for a 10:30 AM Dominican time contest.

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