Benedict, Marauders stymie Miracle in 3-0 shutout
Osuna's eighth inning home run ices Fort Myers
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 4, 2015) - Three Bradenton Marauders pitchers combined to shutout the Fort Myers Miracle, 3-0, at Hammond Stadium on Monday evening.
Marauders starter Matt Benedict went seven scoreless and retired 15 in a row after giving up a lead-off single to Zack Granite in the bottom of the first. Benedict (3-1) issued no walks and just three hits with five strikeouts.
The Marauders broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. With one out, Austin Meadows drew a walk from Miracle starter Luke Westphal. Barrett Barnes then laced a single into center field and Meadows advanced to third base. Reese McGuire then lined a 1-2 pitch into right field off Westphal (0-2) to drive in Meadows and lift the Marauders to a 1-0 lead.
Alex Muren entered in the fifth and induced a double play to end the inning, then remained in the game to toss the sixth and seventh without surrendering a run.
In the eighth, Todd Van Steensel came out of the Miracle pen and struck out the first batter he faced. Van Steensel walked to Erich Weiss and committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt that moved Weiss to second base. Jose Osuna then stepped up and deposited a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer and 3-0 Bradenton advantage. Osuna's second home run of the season traveled 372 feet.
Bradenton brought in reliever Isaac Sanchez in the eighth. Sanchez struck out the side in a perfect inning. The Marauders turned to Brett McKinney in the ninth. After giving up a pair of singles, McKinney retired the side for his third save of the season.
Granite finished the game 2-for-4 and Alex Swim picked up a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Miracle (9-16) head to McKechnie Field to battle the Marauders (13-12) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Fans can listen to the broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 6:05 p.m.
Marauders starter Matt Benedict went seven scoreless and retired 15 in a row after giving up a lead-off single to Zack Granite in the bottom of the first. Benedict (3-1) issued no walks and just three hits with five strikeouts.
The Marauders broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. With one out, Austin Meadows drew a walk from Miracle starter Luke Westphal. Barrett Barnes then laced a single into center field and Meadows advanced to third base. Reese McGuire then lined a 1-2 pitch into right field off Westphal (0-2) to drive in Meadows and lift the Marauders to a 1-0 lead.
Alex Muren entered in the fifth and induced a double play to end the inning, then remained in the game to toss the sixth and seventh without surrendering a run.
In the eighth, Todd Van Steensel came out of the Miracle pen and struck out the first batter he faced. Van Steensel walked to Erich Weiss and committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt that moved Weiss to second base. Jose Osuna then stepped up and deposited a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer and 3-0 Bradenton advantage. Osuna's second home run of the season traveled 372 feet.
Bradenton brought in reliever Isaac Sanchez in the eighth. Sanchez struck out the side in a perfect inning. The Marauders turned to Brett McKinney in the ninth. After giving up a pair of singles, McKinney retired the side for his third save of the season.
Granite finished the game 2-for-4 and Alex Swim picked up a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
The Miracle (9-16) head to McKechnie Field to battle the Marauders (13-12) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Fans can listen to the broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 6:05 p.m.