Del Rosario Dazzles as Offense Lifts Off in 9-2 Win

LAKELAND, Fla. (July 27, 2017) - RHP Eddie Del Rosario (W, 1-0) tossed eight scoreless innings allowing one hit in his Florida State League debut to help the Fort Myers Miracle (20-13) take a 9-2 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (15-15) on Thursday night. The Miracle offense belted a season-high three home runs including Brent Rooker's first in the league.
Lakeland took an early lead on the lone hit Del Rosario allowed. Jake Robson led off the first with a double, and Del Rosario hit the next batter, Dustin Fraley, in the back of the head which eventually knocked him out of the game. A throwing error on a stolen base attempt by catcher Mitchell Kranson brought in Lakeland's first run. From there, the righty was nearly untouchable for Fort Myers.
Del Rosario did not allow another hit. After the first two batters, he issued only a walk and another HBP over the next 26 batters. He only needed 85 pitches to get through his eight innings.
In the top of the fifth against Lakeland starter RHP Endrys Briceno (L, 0-2), Tanner English launched a two-run home run to give the Miracle a 2-1 lead. Briceno departed and Jermaine Palacios, the first batter RHP Jeff Thompson faced, lifted his own home run, a solo shot, to left.
The Miracle added three more runs in the sixth inning on one play. With the bases loaded and two outs, Palacios singled to left scoring both Shane Kennedy and English. The ball snuck under the glove of the left fielder Joey Pankake, who replaced the injured Frailey, and rolled to the wall to bring the third run in.
In a 6-1 game in the ninth, Sean Miller provided a sacrifice fly to score Palacios. With a runner on, Brent Rooker added a tater of his own, a bullet to left field and his first in the FSL. Lakeland added a second unearned run in the ninth for the 9-2 final.
The Miracle look for a series win on Friday night with RHP Brady Anderson on the bump against LHP Austin Sodders at 6:30 PM ET.
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