Miracle split doubleheader

Fort Myers remains atop FSL's Western Division

By special to the Fort Myers News Press

The Fort Myers Miracle looked flat for 11 innings Tuesday evening at Hammond Stadium, but managed to wake up long enough to pull out a doubleheader split against the Clearwater Threshers.

Fort Myers lost game one 7-0 and came from behind to win game two 4-3.

At the end of the night Tuesday, the Florida State League Western Division looked the same as when the evening began.

The Tampa Yankees split their doubleheader with the Sarasota Reds, so the Miracle still lead the Yankees by one game and the Threshers by 1 1/2 with 13 games to go.

In the first 11 innings Tuesday night, the Miracle had one runner get as far as second base, but in the bottom of the fifth in game two, the switch went on.

With the Miracle trailing 3-0, Steve Tolleson led off with a double to center. With one out, an unlikely source of power delivered as Justin Arneson crushed a two-run homer to left-center — just his third of the season — to make it 3-2.

With two outs, Brandon Roberts drew a walk and the Threshers went to their bullpen for Nate Johnson. He had given up just two homers in 59 2/3 innings, but he hung a breaking pitch to Trevor Plouffe, who lined it over the left-field wall — his third of the season — giving the Miracle a 4-3 lead.

Fort Myers reliever Danny Powers did the rest, allowing just two singles over the final two innings and notching his seventh save.

Game one went about as badly as possible for the Miracle. On the offensive side, they managed just five singles and only one runner got as far as second base — Jeremy Pickrel, with two outs in the third.

Miracle starter Kyle Aselton struggled and didn't get out of the fourth inning.

In the first, Aselton walked leadoff batter Brian Burgamy. Greg Golson's infield single moved Burgamy to second and, with one out, Brandon Florence scored Burgamy with a single.

The Threshers added three runs in the third when Burgamy led off with a double. With one out, Mike Costanzo walked and, with two outs, Tim Moss doubled home Burgamy. J.J. Johnson followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0.

Aselton's night was finished in the fourth when he walked Burgamy with two outs and gave up an RBI double to Golson.

The teams will meet again today for another doubleheader, beginning at 5:05 p.m.

The Miracle will send right-hander Anthony Swarzak (9-6, 3.26 ERA) to the hill in game one, and the Threshers will counter with right-hander Julio De La Cruz (6-9, 4.11 ERA).

In game two, Fort Myers is scheduled to start righty Jeff Manship (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Clearwater did not name a starter for the nightcap.