Miracle pitch shut out against Reds

By Special To The News-press

Three Fort Myers Miracle pitchers combined on a shutout Friday night in a 6-0 victory against the Sarasota Reds at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.

The Miracle has started their Florida State League season with a pair of wins in Sarasota.

The teams will continue play tonight at Hammond Stadium in the Miracle's home opener.

Anthony Swarzak went five innings for the victory. He allowed four hits while walking two and striking out four.

Angel Garcia tossed two shutout innings, allowing two hits while striking out one. J.P. Martinez got the save, tossing the final two innings, allowing four hits while striking out one.

The Reds left 11 men stranded as the Miracle pitchers worked out of jams all night.

For the Miracle, Trevor Plouffe walked and later scored on David Winfree's single in the first inning.

Luke Hughes, who hit a three-run homer on Thursday and also barreled over Reds catcher John Purdom, was buzzed by a fastball Friday.

Hughes took two steps towards the pitcher's mound before Purdom blocked him. Words were exchanged and the benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.

In the third inning, Winfree doubled in Alexi Casilla and scored on Erold Andrus' single.

The Miracle tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth. Hughes had a sacrifice fly and Garrett Guzman singled in two runs.