St. Lucie shuts out Miracle

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

ST. LUCIE — The Fort Myers Miracle were shut out for the eighth time this season, losing to the St. Lucie Mets 4-0 Thursday at Tradition Field.

The Miracle managed just five hits, all singles, and had only one base runner as far as third base, Brock Peterson in the seventh inning.

Mets starter Vincent Cordova stifled the Miracle hitters, going seven shutout innings, allowing three hits while walking two and striking out four.

The Mets got all the offense they needed in the first inning. Scott Tyler gave up a one out double to Jonathon Slack. He advanced to third on a balk and scored on a ground out by Lastings Milledge. Tyler gave up another double to Slack in the fourth and he came around to score on an RBI single by Andy Wilson.

Matt Tolbert was 2-4 for the Miracle while Kyle Phillips extended his hit streak to nine games with a single in the second inning. The Miracle have lost three straight for the first time since June 11-13, when they lost four in a row.

The same two teams meet at 7 tonight at Tradition Field. The Miracle send left-hander Justin Jones (1-1, 3.00) to the hill against Met lefty Evan MacLane (6-4, 2.69).