Mauer helps Miracle win

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

The Miracle only had one run on two hits through the first eight innings Wednesday night.

In the bottom of the ninth, they scored two runs on two hits in the ninth inning, en route to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Vero Beach Devil Rays at Hammond Stadium.

Joe Mauer, on a rehab assignment for the Minnesota Twins, went 0-for-3 but had a crucial lead off walk in the ninth that started the rally.

After Mauer walked, Erik Lis blooped a single into center, putting runners at first and second. After Juan Portes failed to move both runners over with a sacrifice, Dwayne White walked to load the bases with one out.

Whit Robbins plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly and Javi Sanchez delivered a chopper up the middle that Rays shortstop Neil Walton mishandled with his throw to second. The throw from Walton allowed pinch-runner Edward Ovalle to score from second with the game-winning run.

Lis had a solo home run, his fifth of the year. Steve Tolleson, along with Sanchez’s single in the ninth, accounted for the other two Miracle hits on the night.

Game two of the series is Thursday night at Hammond Stadium. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.