Poppen's Strong Start Propels Miracle to 6-3 Win

Wiel Blasts Off in Win

(Linwood Ferguson)

By Spencer Siegel

July 16, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 16, 2017) - An early onslaught of runs for the Fort Myers Miracle (17-5) and a second straight quality start from RHP Sean Poppen (W, 2-0) led to a 6-3 win over the St. Lucie Mets (8-15) on Sunday evening. Zander Wiel provided a two-run home run

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 16, 2017) - An early onslaught of runs for the Fort Myers Miracle (17-5) and a second straight quality start from RHP Sean Poppen (W, 2-0) led to a 6-3 win over the St. Lucie Mets (8-15) on Sunday evening. Zander Wiel provided a two-run home run in the win.
Fort Myers jumped out early, scoring a run in the first for the third straight game. Sean Miller led off with a double and was brought home on a Jermaine Palacios groundout. Two innings later, the Miracle busted it wide open with four more tallies. Mitchell Kranson bounced a slow-roller to third with runners on second and third. The charging Jeff McNiel committed a throwing error, allowing both Miller and Brandon Lopez to score. Wiel then stepped up and provided a two-run home run to left, giving Fort Myers a 5-0 lead.
Lopez was hit by a pitch in that third inning and left the game after he scored. He is considered day-to-day. The Miracle added one more with a Jaylin Davis RBI-hit in the fifth to score Kranson. All six runs were charged to starter RHP Justin Dunn (L, 4-6).
Poppen, meanwhile, did not allow a run while he was on the mound. He totaled five strikeouts and walked just one before he was replaced with two runners on in the seventh. RHP Tom Hackimer walked in a run which was charged to Poppen. He was able to strand the bases loaded in the seventh to keep it a 6-1 game.
LHP Alex Robinson handled the final two frames. He struck out three but did allow a two-run home run to Peter Alonso to provide the 6-3 final.
The Miracle look for a series sweep on Monday morning with an 11:05 AM ET first pitch on Splash Day. Both team's pitchers are TBD.
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