Miracle turn away Tampa with road win

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

TAMPA — The Fort Myers Miracle are the only team the Tampa Yankees have trouble with at Legends Field.

The Yankees have the best record at home in the Florida State League, 21-7 entering Wednesday night, but the Miracle beat them in their own park for the third time in four tries with a 4-1 victory.

Strong pitching has helped the Miracle all season and Adam Harben, who has been spectacular in his last three appearances, did it again Wednesday night. Going on three days rest after throwing one inning Saturday before rain halted play, Harben used his dominant fastball to go 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking three and striking out seven.

The bullpen did the rest. Julio DePaula, who came into the game in the sixth with runners at first and second, gave up a hit to Matt Carson that brought in the only run, settled down after that. He went 2 2/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit while walking one and striking out one. Jannio Gutierrez pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

The Miracle offense did just enough for the victory. Fort Myers only got four hits, but made them count. In the second, Trent Oeltjen was hit by a pitch. He stole second and scored on Brock Peterson's RBI single.

In the fifth, Felix Molina led off with a walk. Scott Whitrock lined a 3-1 fastball just inside the left-field pole for a two-run homer, his eighth of the season. The Miracle tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, when Ron Perodin's grounder was booted by Yankee third baseman Hector Zamora which allowed Molina to score from second.

The same two teams meet tonight at Legends Field. The Miracle send left-hander Errol Simonitsch (6-2, 2.76) to the hill against Yankee All-Star lefty Abel Gomez (2-1, 2.73).