Baxendale shuts down Yankees in 7-0 Miracle victory

Miracle improve to 24-6

May 6, 2013

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 6, 2013) - D.J. Baxendale ended the Fort Myers Miracle two-game losing streak in emphatic fashion by dominating the Tampa Yankees on Monday at Hammond Stadium.

Baxendale struck out 10 and gave up just three hits in seven innings as the Miracle cruised to a 7-0 win.

The Miracle right hander from the University of Arkansas improved to 5-0 in six starts. He lowered his ERA to a minuscule 1.49 and he now has 35 strikeouts against only six walks in 36 1/3 innings this season.

The Miracle offense helped its starter by scoring in each of the first four innings. In his first game this season for the Miracle, Aderling Mejia doubled to lead off the first and later scored on an sac fly from Eddie Rosario.

Kennys Vargas, who walked three times, came home on a fielders choice in the second and Matt Koch drove home Miguel Sano in the third with a double to put the Miracle ahead 3-0.

The Miracle pulled away in the fourth inning by scoring four runs against Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell. Drew Leachman led off the frame by reaching on an error by short stop Jose Toussen. Jon Murphy followed with an RBI double.

After Stephen Wickens walked, Rosario picked up his second hit of the night with a double. Mitchell delivered a wild pitch that allowed Wickens to score from third and Sano added another run when he singled in Rosario to complete the scoring at 7-0.

That was more than enough for Baxendale, who retired nine of the past 10 batters he faced. Adrian Salcedo struck out three over the final two innings in relief of Baxendale.

Murphy and Rosario each had two hits for the Miracle.

Mitchell took the loss for the Yankees. He lasted four innings and gave up seven hits and seven runs. He walked five batters.

The Miracle (24-6) and Yankees (13-17) play game three of their four-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Brice Zimmerman and Adam MacDonald will have the call of the game on www.miraclebaseball.com starting with the Square One Burgers and Bar pregame show at 6:45 p.m.