Miracle subdue Reds in home opener

Grand slam keeps squad undefeated

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Kevin Slowey tasted perfection through five innings Saturday night as the Fort Myers Miracle continued their 15th season with a perfect record.

Miracle right fielder Erold Andrus slugged a grand slam in the seventh inning, preserving Slowey's heroics as the Miracle improved to 3-0 with an 11-7 victory over the Sarasota Reds in their home opener at Hammond Stadium.

Slowey, a right-handed starting pitcher for the Miracle, had struck out eight, walked none and retired the first 15 batters he faced through five innings.

Slowey, a second-round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins last June, would have had to retire 12 more batters without giving up a hit, walk or error for the perfect game.

There have been five perfect games since the Florida State League began keeping records in 1936.

It didn't happen.

Miracle shortstop Trevor Plouffe fielded a routine ground ball hit by Reds right fielder Cody Strait to open the sixth inning, but Plouffe threw the ball over first baseman Brock Peterson's head for an error.

From then on, Slowey ran into some trouble, giving up his first hit, yielding his first unearned run and his only walk before giving up his first earned run on an RBI single by Reds shortstop Adam Rosales.

Two outs into the sixth, with the Miracle leading the Reds 5-2, Miracle pitching coach Eric Rasmussen pulled Slowey.

The Reds then scored two more runs off Miracle reliever Josh Hill before the Miracle escaped the inning with a 5-4 lead.

The Reds tied the score at 6 in the top of the seventh inning, but with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Miracle designated hitter David Winfree drove home Alexi Casilla for the go-ahead run.

The Reds intentionally walked Deacon Burns, loading the bases for Andrus.

Big mistake.

Andrus, who hit five home runs last season while playing for the Tampa Yankees, followed with his grand slam.

NOTES

To commemorate the start of their 15th season in Fort Myers, all five of the men who have served the Miracle as general managers threw out ceremonial first pitches. The five (and the years the served as GM): Roger Wexelberg (1992-93), Mark Schuster (1994-96), Derek Sharrer (1997-2000), Dave Burke (2001-04) and Steve Gliner (2005-present).

TODAY'S GAME

Who: Fort Myers Miracle vs. Sarasota Reds
When: 1:05 p.m.
Where: Hammond Stadium