Miracle pitchers shut down Threshers for 7-1 victory

By Special To The News-Press

The Fort Myers Miracle don't want to be caught looking ahead to their big, weekend showdown with the Lakeland Tigers. First, they have a three-game series against the Clearwater Threshers, a team that is 46 games under .500 for the season.

The Miracle handled their business Tuesday night, taking the first game 7-1 at Hammond Stadium.

Fort Myers entered play 10-2 against the Threshers this season and showed no signs of faltering as it jumped on top in the second inning. Jake Mauer made his return in a Miracle jersey for the first time since 2003 and got the inning started with a double to right field. Mauer finished 1-for-4 for the game. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on Scott Whitrock's single. Whitrock stole second and scored on Jose Leger's single to center.

In the third, Kyle Geiger led off with a single to left-center and scored on a double by Brock Peterson. The Miracle pitchers took over the rest of the way.

Jay Rainville continued his brilliance in the Florida State League by going six innings, allowing one run on six hits while walking one and striking out four, and improving to 4-1 since his call-up from Beloit. Tristan Crawford tossed a scoreless inning and Jay Sawatski pitched the final two innings for his 11th save of the season.

The Miracle tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth. With one out, Leger was hit by a pitch and Ron Perodin walked. After Matt Tolbert struck out, Angelo Fermin doubled to center, scoring both runners. Fermin scored on a single to right-center by Trent Oeltjen.

Tolbert finished the night 3-for-4, with an RBI, and Peterson was 2-for-4, with two doubles and an RBI.

The teams will meet at 7:05 tonight at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle will send left-hander Justin Jones (5-2, 3.66 ERA) to the hill against Thresher righty Matt Sweeney (0-7, 8.25 ERA).