Blue Jays shut out Miracle twice

Special to the Cape CoralDaily Breeze

DUNEDIN — Four Dunedin Blue Jays pitchers combined for a 14-inning shutout of the Fort Myers Miracle, earning a doubleheader sweep of 4-0 and 3-0 Thursday night.

The Miracle now have been held scoreless for the last 18 innings.

Blue Jays starter Russ Savickas fired a complete-game three-hitter in the first game. Savickas walked one and struck out three for his first victory of the season.

The Jays’ first two runs came across in the second as Al Quintana slapped a ground-rule double to left-center to score Eric Nielsen. Cory Patton later scored on a groundout by Brian Jeroloman.

The final two runs crossed in the fourth on the first of two Patton doubles and a two-out single to left by Luis Sanchez.

Erik Lis and Whit Robbins accounted for the three Miracle hits in the first game. Lis extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single to center in the first and Robbins had a pair of singles to finish 2-for-3.

In the nightcap, solid pitching, and a quiet Miracle offense, led Dunedin to victory. Dunedin took a 2-0 lead early. Josh Kruezer’s RBI double drove in Anthony Hatch in the first while David Corrente’s RBI single platted Patton in the second.

The Miracle came close all night long in game two. Jeff Christy was stranded at second base in the second inning after a leadoff double to left. In the fourth, runners were left at first and second when Javi Sanchez struck out to end the threat.

Butler belted his team-leading fourth home run of the season, a solo-shot to left, in the fifth.

In the seventh, the Miracle loaded the bases with two outs, but Dwayne White grounded out to end the game.

The teams meet again Friday night.