Miracle and Garza Shocked by Cubs 9-2

By Sean Aronson
Fort Myers Miracle

FORT MYERS, FL – Apparently when it comes to the month of May the Fort Myers Miracle have a case of triskaidekaphobia. For the fourth time in the last four years the Miracle dropped a game on May 13 this time with Matt Garza as their starting pitcher. The Miracle lost for the second straight night to the Daytona Cubs 9-2 at Hammond Stadium.

Garza had the second best ERA in the Florida State League entering play on Saturday, but struggled a little with his command. In the second inning he issued a one out walk to Matt Craig and with two outs gave up a two runs homer to Alan Rick, a .171 hitter, on a 0-2 pitch. It was his first homer of the season, but not his last of the night.

The Miracle, who fell to 20-16, made it 2-1 in the fourth when Garrett Guzman led off with a double to right and scored on Brock Peterson’s RBI single to center.

The Cubs got one more off of Garza in the sixth. He gave up an infield single to Aron Weston, who then advanced to second on the throwing error by Matt Tolbert. Jake Fox singled to center which moved Weston to third and an RBI double by Matt Craig scored Weston to make it 3-1. Garza was removed and went 5.0 innings allowing three runs, his most on the season, on five hits while walking four and striking out four. Danny Powers relieved Garza and after walking Danny Gonzalez to load the bases got Rick to line into a double play and Nate Spears to fly out to center to end the inning.

The Miracle used that momentum to score a run in the sixth when Deacon Burns singled with two outs and scored on Justin Arneson’s double to make it 3-2, but that was as close as the Miracle got.

The Cubs scored two in the eighth on an RBI single by Gonzalez and an infield single by Sam Fuld. They scored four more in the ninth capped off by a three run homer from Rick. He finished the night 2-4 with two homers and five RBI.

The Miracle have Sunday off and head to Palm Beach on Monday to take on the Cardinals at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (1-3, 4.76) to the hill.