History Repeats Itself

Miracle Have Six Game Win Streak Snapped

By Sean Aronson
Ft. Myers Miracle

TAMPA, FL -- History repeated itself for the Fort Myers Miracle on Wednesday night as they lost for the first time in 2006, an 8-2 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Yankees at Legends Field.

The Miracle got off to the identical start in 2005 and lost in their seventh game of the season, ironically, against the Yankees at Legends Field. The Yankees made sure the same thing happened on Wednesday night.

Miracle starter Anthony Swarzak was a little shaky with his control and lasted just 3.2 innings. The Yankees got to him in the first. With a runner at first and two outs Cody Ehlers ripped a double into the left-center field gap for a run scoring double to make it 1-0.

The Yankees exploded for four runs in the fourth. With one out Swarzak walked Jared Greenwood. Brett Gardner, who finished the night 4-5 with a triple and two runs scored, singled to left. Eduardo Nunez drove home Greenwood with a single to right and that ended the night for Swarzak. He went 3.2 innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three. Alexander Farfan got the second out of the inning, but gave up a two runs double to Cody Ehlers, who finished the night 3-3 with two doubles, a homer, five RBI and two runs scored. He then gave up an RBI double to Tim Battle.

Two innings later the Yankees tacked on three more off of Farfan on an RBI single by Marcos Vechionacci and a two run blast by Ehlers.

Yankee starter, and number one prospect in the organization Phil Hughes, was dominant. He allowed an infield single to Alexi Casilla and Trevor Plouffe followed with an infield single, but that was all the Miracle got off of Hughes. He went 6.0 shutout innings on two hits while walking one and striking out one.

The Miracle went from the first until the eighth, when Garrett Guzman drove in two with a single to right, without a hit. The only two runners in that span was a fourth inning walk to Plouffe and Luke Hughes reaching on an error.

The Miracle head home for a six game homestand beginning Thursday night against the Clearwater Threshers at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send RHP Kevin Slowey (0-0, 0.00) to the hill. The game can be heard live on Sports Radio 770 ESPN with the pre-game show beginning at 6:45.