Miscues let Miracle deal Manatee ace first defeat

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

The Fort Myers Miracle did something Friday night that no other Florida State League team had done in 2005 — beat Brevard County Manatee starter Ty Taubenheim. Errol Simonitsch outdueled him in a 2-1 victory at the Lee County Sports Complex.

Taubenheim entered the game 7-0 with a 2.23 ERA.

Simonitsch went eight innings, allowing a solo homer in the seventh inning by C.J. Medlin. He gave up four hits and struck out seven.

Taubenheim pitched seven innings, allowing two runs — one earned — on five hits while walking three and striking out two.

Fort Myers scored its first run in the third inning when JR Taylor singled with two outs. He stole second and, after a Matt Moses walk, Kyle Phillips — hitting .191 and with just two hits in his last 21 at-bats — looped a single into left that scored Taylor.

In the sixth, Trent Oeltjen walked with two outs. He stole second and went to third on an errant throw by the catcher.

He then scored on a wild pitch.