Miracle score twice in ninth for 3-2 victory

By Special to Fort Myers News-Press

The Fort Myers Miracle only had one run on two hits through the first eight innings of play Wednesday.

In the bottom of the ninth, they doubled the totals in both columns 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 the crucial leadoff walk in the ninth that started the rally.

After Mauer began the ninth with his walk, 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 drew a 3-2 walk to load the bases with one out.

Whit Robbins plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly to center that brought in pinch-runner Caleb Moore. Javi Sanchez then delivered a chopper up the middle that Rays shortstop Neil Walton mishandled on a throw to second. The throw from Walton allowed pinch runner Edward Ovalle to score from second for the game-winning run.

Vero Beach took an early 2-0 lead with runs in the third and fourth innings. Walton led off the third with a single to right and later scored on a wild pitch from Miracle starter Zach Ward. Alex Jamieson would soon score Aaron Sisk with his groundout to second, giving the Rays their two-run lead.

Lis single-handedly cut the Vero Beach lead in half with a solo home run to right, his fifth of the year, making it a 2-1 score. After Lis' round-tripper in the fourth, the Miracle would not pick up their next hit until Lis' at-bat in the ninth. Steve Tolleson, along with Sanchez's single in the ninth, accounted for the other two Miracle hits.

Game 2 will take place at Hammond Stadium tonight, with the Miracle sending RHP Jay Rainville (2-6, 3.05) to the mound against the Rays' LHP Mike Wlodarczyk (3-1, 3.49).