Miracle fall to Daytona

By Special to the Fort Myers News Press

DAYTONA BEACH — The Fort Myers Miracle were so used to shutting out opponents that it must have felt odd to be on the other end of it on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark as their shutout streak ended at 36 2/3 innings as they lost 1-0 to the Daytona Cubs.

The Miracle, who dropped to 31-22, entered play having not allowed a run in 29 consecutive innings. With their ace Kevin Slowey on the mound, it looked like it would continue and it did, but only for the time Slowey was in the game. He and Cubs starter Mark Holliman locked horns for seven innings, neither pitcher giving an inch.

Slowey, second in the league in earned run average, threw seven shutout innings allowing just five hits while striking out seven. He allowed just one man to second, giving up two singles in the third, but got a ground ball double play to end the inning as he extended the Miracle shutout streak to 36 innings.

He retired the last nine men he faced, but as usual got no run support.

Holliman matched Slowey pitch for pitch. He went seven innings, allowing just three hits while walking two and striking out four.

The Miracle are now 1-8 at Jackie Robinson ballpark over the last three seasons and will try to win their 1,000th game in Fort Myers franchise history tonight.

The teams meet tonight at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send LHP Kyle Aselton (4-2, 4.10) to the hill against Cubs RHP Matt Weber (2-3, 7.51).