Miracle sweep Manatees, Hicks powers 9-2 victory
Dalton Hicks hits two homers, drives in four
FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 23, 2014) - Dalton Hicks hit two home runs and drove in four to guide the Fort Myers Miracle to a season and series sweep over the Brevard County Manatees with a 9-2 win at Hammond Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Hicks opened and closed the scoring for the Miracle with a pair of long home runs. In the first, Hicks sent a 1-2 pitch from Manatees starter Hobbs Johnson into the the chair back seats in right center for a two-run shot.
Adam Brett Walker joined the power party in the third with a tape measure homer to left center that cleared the brand new outfield boardwalk concourse. On a 1-1 pitch from Johnson (9-7), Walker's majestic drive marked his 21st long ball of the season and gave the Miracle a 3-0 lead. Walker's 21 homers ties him for the most in Miracle history for a single season. Brock Peterson hit 21 in 2006.
The Miracle doubled the lead in the fifth with only one hit. Nate Roberts started the inning by reaching on an error by second baseman Nathan Orf. Johnson then issued walks to Hicks and Walker to load the bases. Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault went to the bullpen and brought in right-hander Scott Lieser. On the first pitch of the game for Lieser, Travis Harrison hit a 30-foot chopper down the third base line and beat out the throw from Greg Hopkins to score a run.
Lieser then walked Niko Goodrum and hit Tyler Grimes with a pitch to force in another two Miracle runs and extend the lead to 6-0. Johnson was charged with all six runs, five earned, and lasted 4.1 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
In the sixth, the Manatees got on the board against Brett Lee. Orf led off with a into right center field. After Michael Reed grounded out, Tyrone Taylor singled into center to move runners to the corners. Victor Roache then lifted a line drive into left to score Orf. After an Alfredo Rodriguez single, Brandon Macias drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right to cut the Miracle advantage to 6-2.
The Fort Myers offense continued to churn out runs with one each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. In the sixth, Hicks picked up his third RBI with a broken bat single into center field. In the seventh, Harrison doubled to lead off and was brought in on a two-bagger from Grimes. Then, in the eighth inning, Hicks launched his second home run of the game and third of the last two days into the stands beyond the center field fence, 9-2.
Hicks finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBI. He now has eight homer runs for the season.
B.J. Hermsen pitched the last two innings and retired all six hitters faced.
Hicks opened and closed the scoring for the Miracle with a pair of long home runs. In the first, Hicks sent a 1-2 pitch from Manatees starter Hobbs Johnson into the the chair back seats in right center for a two-run shot.
Adam Brett Walker joined the power party in the third with a tape measure homer to left center that cleared the brand new outfield boardwalk concourse. On a 1-1 pitch from Johnson (9-7), Walker's majestic drive marked his 21st long ball of the season and gave the Miracle a 3-0 lead. Walker's 21 homers ties him for the most in Miracle history for a single season. Brock Peterson hit 21 in 2006.
The Miracle doubled the lead in the fifth with only one hit. Nate Roberts started the inning by reaching on an error by second baseman Nathan Orf. Johnson then issued walks to Hicks and Walker to load the bases. Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault went to the bullpen and brought in right-hander Scott Lieser. On the first pitch of the game for Lieser, Travis Harrison hit a 30-foot chopper down the third base line and beat out the throw from Greg Hopkins to score a run.
Lieser then walked Niko Goodrum and hit Tyler Grimes with a pitch to force in another two Miracle runs and extend the lead to 6-0. Johnson was charged with all six runs, five earned, and lasted 4.1 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
In the sixth, the Manatees got on the board against Brett Lee. Orf led off with a into right center field. After Michael Reed grounded out, Tyrone Taylor singled into center to move runners to the corners. Victor Roache then lifted a line drive into left to score Orf. After an Alfredo Rodriguez single, Brandon Macias drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right to cut the Miracle advantage to 6-2.
The Fort Myers offense continued to churn out runs with one each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. In the sixth, Hicks picked up his third RBI with a broken bat single into center field. In the seventh, Harrison doubled to lead off and was brought in on a two-bagger from Grimes. Then, in the eighth inning, Hicks launched his second home run of the game and third of the last two days into the stands beyond the center field fence, 9-2.
Hicks finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBI. He now has eight homer runs for the season.
B.J. Hermsen pitched the last two innings and retired all six hitters faced.
Fort Myers wrapped up the season series with Brevard County with a perfect 7-0 record.
The Miracle (63-37, 22-9) have won five consecutive games and 12 of the last 13. Fort Myers will travel to Tampa, Fla. to battle the Tampa Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on Thursday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Fans can listen to the play-by-play broadcast with the 'Voice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman. The Head Quarters Men's Haircuts Pregame Show begins at 6:35 p.m.