Miracle strand 14 base runners in loss

By special to the Fort Myers News Press

The Fort Myers Miracle had plenty of opportunities against the Vero Beach Dodgers on Monday night at Hammond Stadium, but they stranded 14 base runners and lost 5-2 to a team that is 25 games under .500.

The Miracle left the bases loaded in three innings, including the ninth, in the Florida State League game. With the Miracle trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Brandon Roberts, who finished the evening 3-for-5, led off with a double.

Trevor Plouffe walked and, with one out, Brock Peterson doubled home Roberts.

After Deacon Burns struck out, Steve Tolleson walked to load the bases and bring the winning run to the plate. J.R. Taylor, however, struck out for the third time in the game and the Miracle had their three-game winning streak ended.

The Miracle, who fell to 23-19, jumped out to the early, 1-0 lead in the second when Jeremy Pickrel walked with two outs, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Roberts. It would be the last lead for Fort Myers.

The Dodgers tied it up in the fourth when Cory Dunlap led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an infield single by Drew Locke.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when, with two outs, Eloy Gutierrez reached on an infield single and scored when David Nicholson doubled him home.

The Dodgers put it away in the sixth. With two outs, Ryder Mathias singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a walk to Jamie Hoffman, Gutierrez singled home Mathias to make it 3-1. David Nicholson's infield single scored Hoffman and a throwing error by J.R. Taylor on the play allowed Gutierrez to score.

Miracle starter Josh Hill went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs — four earned — on nine hits, while walking four and striking out five. Peterson finished the night 2-for-5, with a double and an RBI, and extended his hitting streak to 12 games.

The teams will meet at 7:05 tonight at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle will start right-hander Colby Miller (3-3, 4.96 ERA) against Dodgers righty Cory Wade (0-2, 5.85 ERA).

MORE MIRACLE NEWS

Miracle outfielder Brandon Roberts was named the Florida State League TOPPS Player of the Month for July. The 21-year-old outfielder hit .394, with two homers and 16 RBI, in 27 games in the month of July. In 109 at-bats, he had 43 hits, eight doubles and 17 runs scored, and was 12-for-14 in stolen-base attempts. He hit safely in 23 of the 27 games he appeared in, including a Miracle season-high-tying 13 consecutive games. He also put together a streak of seven straight multi-hit games.