Duo rests, Miracle sputter against Daytona Beach

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

DAYTONA BEACH — The Fort Myers Miracle got a glimpse of what it would be like to play without two of their first-round draft picks, Matt Moses and Denard Span, as the offense struggled without them and the Miracle lost to the Daytona Cubs 9-2 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Wednesday night.

Moses and Span were given the night off and with them went the clutch hitting as the Miracle left 10 men on base. The Miracle managed 11 hits, but were 4-14 with runners in scoring position. They did jump out on top in the third inning when Trent Oeltjen led off with a single. One out later Ron Perodin reached on an infield single and Oeltjen advanced to third when Cub first baseman Brian Dopirak dropped the ball. J.R. Taylor followed with a single that drove in Oeltjen, and Scott Whitrock singled home Taylor.

Taylor finished the night 3-for-4 with an RBI and Perodin went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Miracle starter Scott Tyler was charged with all nine runs (five earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Julio DePaula and Chris Schutt pitched the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits while walking one and striking out six.

The Miracle now head home for a four-game series against the Jupiter Hammerheads beginning at 7:05 tonight. The Miracle send right-hander Adam Harben (2-3, 3.82) to the hill against Hammerhead right-hander James Russ (4-0, 3.69).