Three's wild for Miracle player in victory

Tolbert slugs 3 doubles, drives in 3, makes 3 outs with 1 swing

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

Four pitchers combined for a shutout as the Fort Myers Miracle beat the Clearwater Threshers 7-0 on Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium.

Chris Schutt got the start for the Miracle and hurled four innings, allowing four hits while walking two and striking out two.

Errol Simonitsch, a starter for the Miracle, came out of the bullpen to work two scoreless innings. Julio DePaula and Jannio Gutierrez finished up the final three innings to complete the shutout.

The Miracle took a 1-0 lead in the second when Scott Whitrock reached on a fielding error by Thresher third baseman Carlos Rodriguez. Matt Tolbert knocked Whitrock home with a double.

In the fourth with the bases loaded and no outs, Tolbert lined a shot that first baseman Bryan Hansen caught. Hansen touched first to erase Ron Perodin for the second out and then fired to second to get out Whitrock and turn a triple play.

The last triple play in the Florida State League occurred in 2003 when the Brevard County Manatees turned the trick.

Tolbert got his revenge in the seventh when he doubled home Perodin. In a five-run eighth inning Perodin doubled home two runs and Tolbert doubled home a run for the third time in the game. He finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI.

The same two teams will meet at 7:05 p.m. today at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle send LHP Glen Perkins (2-2, 2.54) to the hill against Thresher RHP Zach Segovia (1-8, 6.83). The game will be followed by a fireworks extravaganza.