Fire Frogs Off to Hot Start With Win Over Miracle

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (June 22, 2017) - The Florida Fire Frogs took a while to get the bats going, but eventually jumped out to an 8-1 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle on Thursday night at Osceola County Stadium. The win snaps a three-game losing streak, and starts the Fire Frogs off with a 1-0 record to begin the second half.

Fort Myers (0-1, 33-36) took an early lead against Enderson Franco in the first with an unearned run. Max Murphy and Alex Perez singled to start the game, and Zander Wiel bounced into a fielder's choice. On the play, Murphy scored on an errant throw at second from Alay Lago to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.
The score remained in favor of the Miracle until the Fire Frogs broke through with two runs against Lachlan Wells (3-9) in the fourth frame.
Ray-Patrick Didder (2x5, R) singled to start the inning, and took second on a failed pickoff play for his 17^th stolen base of the season. Austin Riley (1x4) drove a ball to right, allowing Didder to tag and reach third on the play. After Tyler Neslony (1x3, 2 R, BB) drew a free pass to put runners on the corners, a wild pitch to Carlos Castro (1x4, 2B, RBI) allowed Didder to score the tying run and moved Neslony into second. Castro then shot a double over the head of Daniel Kihle in left, scoring Neslony to put the home team ahead by a run.
Florida (1-0, 26-41) utilized a leadoff triple from Lago (2x3, R, 3B, RBI) in the fifth inning to grab an insurance run. Alejandro Salazar (2x3, R, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI) drove in his first of four runs of the night with a sacrifice fly to center to give the Fire Frogs a 3-1 lead.
Salazar struck again the next inning with a two-run double to cap off a three-run frame that pushed Florida ahead at 6-1. The 20-year-old shortstop cranked a triple into the gap in left-center in the eighth, plating Braxton Davidson (1x2, 2 R, 2 BB) all the way from first. An errant throw from Shane Kennedy allowed Salazar to score on the play to stretch the advantage to 8-1 heading into the ninth.
Franco (2-4) worked quickly and efficiently through his third quality start of the season. The right-hander scattered seven hits through his six innings of work, but only allowed the unearned run along with two walks and three strikeouts. The 24-year-old needed 79 pitches on the night, with 53 going across the zone for strikes.
Dan Winkler made his second rehab appearance for the Fire Frogs in the seventh inning and walked a man while picking up a strikeout. Jacob Webb worked the final two frames of the night, giving up two hits and issuing a base on balls to go along with four punchouts.
The Fire Frogs look to keep things going against the Miracle in game two of the four-game set against the Friday night. RHP Andres Santiago (0-2, 6.75) takes the mound for Florida against Fort Myers' LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-2, 2.12). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with coverage starting at 6:50 p.m. on the Florida Fire Frogs Broadcasting Network.
Friday is "Hispanic Heritage Night" at Osceola County Stadium, where fans can join the Fire Frogs in celebrating the rich Hispanic culture in baseball and in Central Florida. Game two is also "First Pitch Happy Hour" at the ballpark, where fans can enjoy $2 domestic drafts, $1 fountain drinks, or $3 rum drinks. Fans are also encouraged to stay after the game for a postgame fireworks show!
About the Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and compete in the Florida State League. The Fire Frogs play their home games at Osceola County Stadium, located at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaFireFrogs.com, and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.