Miracle survive, get win over Threshers

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

CLEARWATER — It wasn't the best-played game of the season, but the Fort Myers Miracle took the win, as they defeated the Clearwater Threshers 7-5 on Sunday in the Florida State League.

In a game that saw the Miracle commit three errors, took more than three hours to play and had a total of 11 walks, Fort Myers scored two runs late for the victory.

With the game tied at 5 in the eighth, the Miracle loaded the bases on a walk and two hit batsmen. Trent Oeltjen broke the tie with a two-run single to right.

In the bottom of the ninth, however, Miracle reliever Jan Granado made it interesting when the Threshers put the tying runs on base before Zach Norman flied out just in front of the warning track in center to end the game.

Fort Myers never trailed in the game. The Miracle got on the board first when Matt Moses hit his third homer of the season, a solo shot over the right-center field wall in the first.

After the Threshers tied it in the bottom of the inning, the Miracle struck for three runs in the second.

J.R. Taylor led off the inning with a single and stole second. Trent Oeltjen tripled home Taylor. Oeltjen scored on a passed ball.

Matt Tolbert's infield single enabled Moses to drive in his second run of the day with a double to left.

Moses finished the day 3-for-4, falling a triple shy of the cycle, with two RBI and two runs scored.

Oeltjen finished the game 2-for-5, with a triple and three RBI and a run scored.

Granado picked up his league-tying third victory of the season by going 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out three.

The teams will meet again at 7:05 tonight at Clearwater's Bright House Networks Field.

The Miracle will send right-hander Scott Tyler (1-1, 3.86 ERA) to the hill against Threshers right-hander Matt Sweeney (0-3, 13.06).