Miracle shut out for 16th time this season

By Special to the Naples Daily News

JUPITER — It was the Adam Ottavino show on Monday night as the Palm Beach starter went eight innings, allowing the only four hits of the night, as his Cardinals shutout the Fort Myers Miracle 4-0 at Roger Dean Stadium. Ottavino, who improved to 5-5 behind his seven strikeouts, handed the Miracle their 16th shutout this season.

Ottavino, a first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals a year ago, proved his worth against the Miracle by retiring 19 of his final 20 Miracle hitters on the night. The first of four Palm Beach runs came across in the fifth inning as James Rapoport’s fielder’s choice brought home A.J. Van Slyke for the 1-0 lead.

One of two Miracle errors on the night led to the first of two runs in the sixth, before Van Slyke’s RBI single gave the Cardinals a three-run lead. The final run for the hosts came from another fielder’s choice in the seventh, this one by Ian Church, proved to be more than enough run support for Ottavino.

The Miracle had two scoring chances early on but couldn’t take advantage of either situation. Brian Dinkelman smashed a one-out triple in the first, but was stranded at third as Luis Ugueto and Erik Lis both grounded out to short to end the inning. With two outs in the second, Javi Sanchez popped up to Isaias Garcia at second to strand runners at first and third.

The finale of the four-game series will take place at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday night. The Miracle will try to avoid their third sweep of the year sending RHP Jay Rainville (3-7, 3.50) to the mound against RHP Robert Ransom (0-0, 2.70) for Palm Beach.