Miracle offense Clicks

Pitching is stellar in 9-1, two hit victory

By Sean Aronson
Fort Myers Miracle

LAKELAND, FL – The Fort Myers Miracle made sure there wasn’t going to be a late inning rally as the offense continued their relentless attack throughout the game and the pitching held the Lakeland Tigers to just two hits in a 9-1 victory at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday night.

The offense, which was non-existent after the fourth inning on Friday night, got things going in the third. Johnny Woodard blasted a 450 foot blast over the right-center field wall, for his first homer of the season. He finished the night 3-3 with a homer, RBI and four runs scored. With two outs in the third Deacon Burns walked, Garrett Guzman singled and Erold Andrus hit a three run homer over the right field wall, his second of the season that gave the Miracle a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth Kory Feiner walked and with one out Woodard singled to right. With two outs Alexi Casilla ripped a double off the right-center field wall that scored both runners and gave the Miracle a 6-0 lead.

In the sixth, with one out, Luke Hughes reached on second baseman Gilberto Mejia’s fielding error. Woodard followed with a single to left and Justin Arneson doubled home both runs to make it 8-0. The Miracle tacked on a run in the eighth on an RBI ground out by Casilla.

Miracle starter Matt Garza wasn’t overshadowed by the offense. In the first inning, with one out, Mejia hit a sinking liner to right that Jeremy Pickrel tried to make a sliding grab on, but the ball just went under his glove and rolled past him for a double. That would be the only hit Garza allowed in 6.2 innings. He allowed one unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out nine. Angel Garcia tossed the final 2.1 innings allowing a two out single in the eighth to Jeff Frazier and the Tigers were two hit for the first time since 2002.

The Miracle now head to Knology Park for a two game series against the Dunedin Blue Jays beginning Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-1, 2.92) against Blue Jay LHP Eric Fowler (5.06).