Miracle open with a victory

Garza limits Reds to two runs over five innings

By Special To The News-press

Introducing the first-place Fort Myers Miracle.

OK, so they are only 1-0, but a strong opening-night performance gave the Florida State League Miracle a 7-3 victory over the Sarasota Reds on Thursday night at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium.

Matt Garza, the first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2005, outdueled the Cincinnati Reds' first-round pick from 2004, Homer Bailey.

Garza hurled five strong innings, allowing two runs — one earned — on just two hits, while striking out four. Garza gave up a solo home run to Adam Rosales with two outs in the first and then proceeded to retire 11 consecutive batters before Cody Straight reached base on an error in the fifth.

The Miracle got Garza all the run support he needed in the third inning.

Jeremy Pickrel led off with a single to third. Kory Feiner's grounder to second was booted by Drew Anderson and that allowed Luke Hughes to come to the plate. He crushed a three-run homer over the left-field wall to put the Miracle up 3-1.

Fort Myers tacked on two more runs in the fifth.

Pickrel reached on an error and, two outs later, scored on an RBI single by Alexi Casilla. Trevor Plouffe singled Casilla to second and Casilla scored on Garrett Guzman's RBI single.

Guzman finished the evening 2-for-4, with an RBI.

The Reds added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Miracle scored two insurance runs in the ninth.

With runners at second and third, Casilla came through again, with a two-run single to right.

Casilla finished the night 2-for-5, with three RBI and a run scored.

The teams will meet again tonight at Ed Smith Stadium. The Miracle will send right-hander Anthony Swarzak to the mound against Sarasota right-hander Sam Lecure.

Fort Myers' home-opener will be Saturday against Sarasota.