Miracle capture win over Threshers

Fort Myers posts sixth consecutive victory

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

CLEARWATER — The Fort Myers Miracle pitching staff is second in the Florida State League in ERA, and it showed why again Friday night at Bright House Networks Field.

Nick Blackburn hurled a complete game as the Miracle defeated the Clearwater Threshers 3-1.

Fort Myers has won six games in a row, matching the team's longest winning streak of the season.

Blackburn allowed just six hits while walking three and striking out two.

He didn't allow a runner to reach second base until the sixth inning and never faced more than five batters in an inning. He induced the Threshers into three double plays en route to his sixth win of the season.

The game was scoreless until the eighth.

With two outs, J.R. Taylor hit a ground ball to Thresher first baseman Bryan Hansen, who bobbled it and his throw to pitcher Greg Bauer was dropped. Matt Moses then singled off the glove of a diving Tim Moss at second, allowing Taylor to go to third. Kyle Geiger singled to right to drive home Taylor and send Moses to third.

Trent Oeltjen then laid down a two-out bunt that he beat out and Moses scored from third to make it 2-0.

The Threshers scored their only run in the bottom of the eighth. With runners at first and second and two out, Carlos Rodriguez singled to center to drive home Zach Norman, but B.J. Littleton was caught in a rundown between second and third and tagged out.

The Miracle got an insurance run in the ninth when Matt Tolbert walked with two outs and Ron Perodin doubled him home.

The teams will meet again tonight in Clearwater.