Miracle Leap Back Into First Place with 5-0 Win

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 4, 2017) - The Fort Myers Miracle (25-16) pitchers racked up a season high 16 strikeouts in their 5-0 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads (24-16) on Friday night. The pitching trio of LHP Lewis Thorpe (W, 3-4), LHP Michael Theofanopoulos and RHP Williams Ramirez combined to shut out the Hammerheads in Fort Myers' win.
Thorpe struck out two batters in each of the first four innings and picked one up in the fifth to total nine whiffs, a season high for the lefty. He surrendered just two hits over his five frames. Up 5-0, he worked out of trouble in the fifth after walking three straight batters with two outs to load the bases. Mason Davis field to center to end the threat.
The Miracle runs came in the third and fourth innings. LHP Ben Meyer (L, 3-3) had not allowed more than three runs in any start this year. He began the third with a walk of Nelson Molina followed by a Sean Miller single and Brandon Lopez walk to load the bases with nobody out. Meyer settled in to strikeout Jermaine Palacios and retire Zander Wiel, keeping the baserunners stationary. With two outs, Kevin Garcia provided the clutch two-run single to break the scoreless tie. Brent Rooker followed with a broken-bat knock to right scoring Lopez.
In a 3-0 game in the fourth, the Miracle added two more when, with runners on first and second, Miller put a sacrifice bunt down that was dropped at first base by the second baseman Mason Davis. Jaylin Davis scored on the error and Molina came home a batter later on a Lopez groundout to provide the 5-0 final.
After Thorpe's nine strikeouts, Theofanopoulos provided four of his own in the sixth and seventh. Ramirez took care of the final two innings with three K's including one of Chris Hoo to end the game.
Fort Myers presents Beer, Bacon and Baseball with a Miracle sock giveaway presented by Killebrew Root Beer on Saturday night with first pitch at 6:05 PM ET. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive special Miracle socks, and there will be a craft beer tasting from 5-7 PM. LHP Anthony McIver takes the mound for the Miracle opposing RHP Cody Poteet.
To stay up to date on upcoming promotional nights, follow the Miracle online at Miraclebaseball.com or through social media; Twitter: @MiracleBaseball, Instagram: fortmyersmiracle, Facebook: Fort Myers Miracle, Snapchat: ftmyersmiracle. To purchase tickets, visit MiracleBaseball.com/tickets. For further information or questions regarding the 2017 25^th Anniversary Season, call the Miracle offices at (239) 768-4210.