Miracle Pitcher Randazzo figuring it out

Jeff Randazzo is feeling a lot better and, because of that, he's pitching a lot better.

The 6-foot-7 southpaw has gained confidence on the mound with the Fort Myers Miracle, and that's translated to improved performance.

Randazzo struggled to begin the season, stumbling to a 3-9 record. In those struggles, Randazzo says he was uncomfortable during games. He struggled with his consistency. In one game, he'd walk one, but in the next game, he'd walk seven.

"I put too much pressure on myself to make adjustments," he says. "I was forcing myself to be great."

But when Randazzo relaxed, his pitching improved. He's come on strong in his last two starts, winning both and giving up only one earned run. In his last two wins, Randazzo has pitched 12 innings, giving up nine hits and striking out seven.

"It was about my fifth game of the year when it clicked," he says. "I started to say, 'To heck with it. Stop thinking so much and let your abilities take over.' "

He says he's become more aggressive, pitching inside more often. He also reminds himself of his strengths, of what he can and can't do.

"I'm not a guy who overpowers hitters," he says. "I won't strike out 10 a game. For me, it's always been about pitch command, just fighting through it and getting things right with my mechanics."

BUSH WINS 'BOBBLECTION': Minor league baseball fans have spoken, and they think the old Texas Rangers owner should remain in the White House.

President George W. Bush won a "Bobblection" on Monday night sponsored by several minor-league baseball teams across the country.

The promotion was a brainchild of Mike Veeck and the Goldkang Group, which owns the Miracle and several other minor-league teams.

Fans who walked through the turnstiles of the Miracle, Charleston (S.C.) River Dogs, Hudson Valley (N.Y.) Renegades, St. Paul (Minn.) Saints, Brockton (Mass.) Rox, Sioux Falls (S.D.) Canaries and New Haven (Conn.) County Cutters could choose bobblehead dolls of either Bush or Democrat candidate Sen. John Kerry. Each bobblehead counted as a vote for that candidate.

The Miracle had 1,000 bobbleheads — 500 each for Kerry and Bush — at Monday night's game.

Bush won four of seven states, including the one in Fort Myers.

MIRACLE MOVING UP?: Despite a rocky 4-10 start to the second half of the season, the Miracle have a chance to climb to the top of the Florida State League West Division standings.

The Miracle, 2 1/2 games back of the Tampa Yankees and Dunedin Blue Jays to start the week, have three games against Tampa on this week's schedule: Tuesday and Wednesday at Hammond Stadium and Saturday at Legends Field.

But the Miracle can't forget about the cellar- dwelling Clearwater Threshers, who have a three-game series with the Miracle on Thursday and Friday at Hammond and host Fort Myers Monday.

LIRIANO PROMOTED: One of the Miracle's top pitchers has moved on to Class AA. Lefty Francisco Liriano, who led the team in strikeouts and innings pitched, was moved to the New Britain Rock Cats on Monday night. Liriano had fanned 125 for the Miracle.

Fort Myers also transferred catcher Eli Tintor to the Gulf Coast League.

The team activated both right-handed pitcher Matt Yeatman and catcher Elvis Corporan from the disabled list.

Miracle drop pair of games vs. Jupiter

Jupiter completed a rout in the suspended game, winning 15-4, then edged the Miracle, 2-1, in the regularly scheduled game on Monday at Hammond Stadium.

The Hammerheads put up five runs in the fifth, a three-run shot by Eric Ordorica. James Shanks had five hits for Jupiter. Ben Pattee had three hits for Fort Myers.

In the second game, the Miracle misplayed a couple of bunts and it cost them in the one-run loss. Both bunts went for base hits.

The back-to-back losses are the first for the Miracle since losing three straight games in early July. The Tampa Yankees play at Fort Myers tonight at 7:05. The game can be heard on Sports Radio 770 ESPN.