Miracle take doubleheader

By special to the Fort Myers News Press

JUPITER — The Fort Myers Miracle can't afford to look a week down the road to their big showdown against the Clearwater Threshers, and there was no letdown as they got off on the right foot Monday night at Roger Dean Stadium by sweeping a doubleheader from the Jupiter Hammerheads.

They won the first game 2-1 on a seventh-inning homer by David Winfree and captured the nightcap 3-0, taking over sole possession of first place in the Western Division of the Florida State League.

The doubleheader sweep meant that the Miracle have won a season-high-tying six consecutive games and nine of 11, are 29-20 in the second half and a season-high 15 games over .500 on the season.

In Game 1, the Miracle offense was stifled by Hammerheads starter Jacob Marceaux for six innings. He allowed just a leadoff single to Brock Peterson, in the fifth inning.

That was until the seventh, when, with the Miracle trailing 1-0, Trevor Plouffe led off with a single to left. Winfree followed with a two-run homer over the left-field wall, his ninth of the season, which proved to be the game-winner.

Miracle starter Kyle Waldrop was sterling, but it looked like the lone mistake he made would cost him. With two outs in the fourth, J.T. Restko took a 0-2 pitch and lined it into center for a single. Jai Miller followed with an RBI triple into right field that put the Hammerheads up 1-0.

Waldrop threw a complete game, allowing one run on six hits while striking out three.

In Game 2, the Miracle scored early and deflated the Hammerheads. Three batters, all of them hitting just above .200, accounted for the first run. With one out, J.R. Taylor (.205) reached on an infield single to short. Erold Andrus (.201) singled to center, putting runners at first and second.

Justin Arneson (.202) drove home Taylor with a single to left to put the Miracle on top 1-0.

Winfree came calling again in the third, hitting his second homer of the evening, a solo shot down the left-field line, and his 10th of the season.

The pitching didn't need any more help. Jeff Manship, getting the spot start in his first appearance with the Miracle, was stellar in his two innings.

He was perfect, striking out three. Manship, a 14th-round draft selection by the Twins this season out of Notre Dame, pitched two games in the Gulf Coast League before joining the Miracle. J.P. Martinez tossed the next two innings, giving up the only two hits, while walking one and striking out three. He received the victory. Tim Lahey (two innings) and Danny Powers (one inning) worked three perfect innings, with Powers earning his sixth save of the season.

The teams will play again at 6:35 tonight at Roger Dean Stadium. The Miracle will start right-hander Oswaldo Sosa (1-0, 3.18 ERA) against righty Timothy Wood (2-4, 5.87 ERA).