Miracle overcome mistakes to get win

Victory pushes Fort Myers record to 4-0

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Quinton McCracken gave the Sarasota Reds a big-league presence in a minor-league game against the Fort Myers Miracle on Sunday afternoon.

But minor-league tendencies — five errors by the Reds, one by the Miracle and several base-running and bunting mistakes by the Miracle — abounded as Fort Myers defeated Sarasota 8-4 in improving to 4-0 as the Class A Florida State League season gets under way.

"We got away with a lot today," Miracle manager Kevin Boles said. "The way we were on the base paths and situational hitting, there are a lot of areas to clean up."

Two Miracle players attempted to bunt, only to hit the bunt directly up in the air for easy, pop-up outs in front of the announced crowd of 976 fans at Hammond Stadium.

Miracle designated hitter David Winfree forgot to touch second base to tag up in the fifth inning, and he was thrown out by the Reds.

Winfree, however, did go 3-for-5 with two RBI.

With the score tied at 4 in the bottom of the seventh, Winfree and Erold Andrus scored on a single by Luke Hughes for a 6-4 lead — all the Miracle needed.

Miracle right fielder Jeremy Pickrel went 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple and a walk.

"It's early yet, but so far, we've had a different lineup every night," Pickrel said. "It's always good to have guys on the bench who can come in and produce just as well as the starters."

McCracken could have been starting in the big leagues this season after hitting .386 during 17 spring games for the Reds.

A strained ligament in his right ankle, however, forced McCracken to begin the season rehabilitating in the minors.

McCracken went 2-for-3 with one run scored.

He showed some of speed — McCracken once stole 60 bases as a minor-leaguer — in bunting for a single.

"I'm just trying to get healthy," said McCracken, who has played for the Rockies, Devil Rays, Twins and Diamondbacks since breaking into the big leagues in 1995.

"It's a means to an end," McCracken said of playing in the minors. "I have fun playing the game. It's neat to get back on the field."

Over the past 15 seasons, the Miracle often have had big-league players from their parent club, the Minnesota Twins, playing for them on rehabilitation assignments.

Former Twins starting pitcher Eric Milton pitched for the Miracle in 2003. Rick Aguilera once pitched for the Miracle.

The Miracle once faced Hall- of-Famer Andre Dawson, who, like McCracken, was sent to the minors on a rehabilitation assignment.

"When you can have a major-league ballplayer playing against you, it's a good example," Boles said. "It's what these guys are striving to become. The major-leaguers are so polished.

"It's good to see a guy who's a finished product."