Miracle eliminate Blue Jays, 1-0

By Special to the Naples Daily News

DUNEDIN — Erik Lis provided the offense along with the game-saving throw in the bottom of the ninth as the Fort Myers Miracle picked up a 1-0 shutout victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays. With the victory, the Miracle gain of measure of revenge by knocking the Blue Jays out of the second-half playoff race.

The only scoring in the Saturday night contest was a lead-off home run by Lis in the top of the fourth. Lis sent a tape-measure shot over the right-field wall. Lis collected his 17th dinger of the season and his Florida State League-leading 92nd run batted in.

Lis saved the game with a throw to the plate in the Dunedin ninth to preserve the win. The Jays had runners at first and second with one out as Anthony Hatch stepped to the plate. Hatch bounced a ground ball over to Toby Gardenhire at third who would step on the third base bag forcing out pinch-runner Luke Hetherington.

After recording the second out at third, Gardenhire unleashed a high throw to first, attempting for a game-ending double play, but his throw sailed on Lis who had the ball clip off his glove and trickle down the right-field line. Carlo Cota, on first to begin the play, tried to score on the errant throw until Lis came up with a strike to catcher Korey Feiner, who blocked the plate from Cota, and applied the tag to end the ball game.

Winners of four-straight, the Miracle will attempt to finish the season with five-straight and end the season with a 70-70, .500 record. The final game in the 2007 season will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon as the Miracle put right-hander Kyle Waldrop (6-5, 3.36) on the mound against right-hander Brandon Magee (9-7, 3.84) for Dunedin.