Late Jays homer does in Miracle

By special to Fort Myers News-Press

DUNEDIN — Josh Kruezer picked a great time to belt his 13th home-run of the season.

His two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth helped the Dunedin Blue Jays knock off the Fort Myers Miracle 2-1 on Thursday night.

The Miracle have played 31 one-run games this year, falling to 13-18 in those contests.

The starters looked impressive throughout the night at Knology Park. Miracle starter Zach Ward went six innings, allowing no runs on six hits, with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. Jays starter Brandon Magee went 7.2 innings, allowing the lone Miracle run on eight hits. He also walked two and struck out three.

After a scoreless seven innings to start off, the Miracle finally got on the board in the eighth. Edward Ovalle led off with a single to right, moved to second on a wild pitch and went to third on Johnny Woodard’s groundout to short. Catcher Jeff Christy lined a single to left to plate Ovalle for the 1-0 lead.

In the Dunedin eighth, a lead-off walk to Anthony Hatch from Armando Gabino proved costly as two hitters later, Kruezer crushed the go-ahead, two-run shot to left.

Dunedin will go for the sweep at 7 tonight as they send lefty A.J. Wideman (5-2, 3.76) to the mound against right-hander Jay Rainville (4-8, 3.59).