Miracle end their year with 1-0 defeat

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

For one final time in 2005, the Fort Myers Miracle put on their jerseys Sunday and took the field. When all was said and done, the Miracle had dropped their Florida State League season-finale 1-0 to the Sarasota Reds at the Lee County Sports Complex.

For a while, it looked like the finale would be a historic one.

Jose Mijares made a spot start for the Miracle and pitched five perfect innings, striking out seven. However, Mijares used up his pitch count and gave way to Kyle Edlich.

Edlich shut the Reds down in the sixth, and in the seventh, it looked like fate was on Fort Myers' side. Phillip Gentry ripped a shot down the first-base line that Jake Mauer made a diving play on and touched first to record the out.

However, after the first 17 batters were retired, Sarasota's Hector Tiburcio broke up the perfect game with a bunt single to third. With two outs, Jeff Urgelles doubled off the left-field wall to drive in the only run of the game.

The Miracle had their chances in the late innings.

In the eighth, Andrew Thompson singled to left and Angelo Fermin doubled to right-center to put runners on second and third. However, Ron Perodin's grounder to second forced Thompson at the plate and Mauer grounded out to end the inning.

In the ninth, Mark Zamojc and Allen de San Miguel singled with two outs, but Justin Arneson popped up.

Fort Myers finished a combined 74-59, ending up third in the FSL Western Division in both halves of the season.