Tejada pitches Miracle to 2-1 win

The Fort Myers Miracle had used all but one man in the bullpen in Thursday’s doubleheader in Tampa, so when Miracle starter Justin Olson re-injured his hamstring Friday night, the weight of the Florida State League game rested solely on the arm of Manny Tejada.

He delivered, carrying the Miracle to a 2-1 victory against the Dunedin Blue Jays at Hammond Stadium.

Tejada, who entered the game with two out in the second inning, threw 103 pitches over six innings and gave up just one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out eight.

He didn’t allow a hit from the fourth until a two-out single in the eighth. Tejada allowed two men to reach base just once in earning his fourth victory of the season.

Pat Neshek pitched the final 1.1 innings to pick up his 10th save in 11 tries this season for Fort Myers.

The Miracle scored all the runs they would need in the first inning. With one out, Ron Perodin singled off the glove of third baseman Carlo Cota. Danny Matienzo doubled to score Perodin and moved to third on a single by Doug Deeds. Elvis Corporan’s ground out scored Matienzo.

The teams will meet again at 7:05 tonight at Hammond Stadium.