Hu stellar as Miracle shutout Mets, 7-0
Hu combines with Shibuya and Chargois to blank St. Lucie
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 17, 2015) - Chih-Wei Hu hurled seven scoreless innings with ten strikeouts to guide the Fort Myers Miracle to a 7-0 shutout win over the St. Lucie Mets on Friday night at Hammond Stadium.
Hu (1-0) allowed just three base runners and went to a three ball count just twice. Issuing only one walk and giving up two hits, Hu faced only three over the minimum in his seven innings. Tim Shibuya and J.T. Chargois completed the shutout with each tossing a scoreless frame. Shibuya gave up one hit in the eighth and Chargois put the Mets down 1-2-3 in the ninth while hitting 99 MPH on the radar gun.
The Miracle offense was lifted by Jason Kanzler in the second inning. After busting an 0-for-23 slump in Thursday's game with a bunt single, Kanzler opened the scoring with a long two-run homer off Mets starter Marco Molina. Marcus Knecht started the inning with a four-pitch walk. Then, Molina (0-1) fanned Logan Wade and Michael Quesada back-to-back. Kanzler stepped up and demolished a first pitch fastball beyond the Sun Harvest Citrus lawn in left field to put the Miracle up 2-0. The homer was Kanzler's first of the season.
In the fifth, Kanzler again ignited the offense with a lead-off double down the third base line. Engelb Vielma attempted a bunt that rolled just past the pitcher's mound. Molina made a sliding stop, but threw wild to first. The throw ricocheted into right field and Kanzler raced home to push the Miracle lead to 3-0. The play was scored a hit for Vielma and a throwing error allowing the run to score.
Fort Myers blew the game open in the sixth. Mitch Garver singled into left to start the inning and Max Kepler reached on a fielder's choice error by Dominic Smith that moved Garver to third. Molina walked Knecht to load the bases and exited in favor of St. Lucie lefty Kyle Regnault.
Entering with the bases loaded, Regnault struck out Wade and Quesada for the first two outs. Kanzler was down 0-1, when he checked his swing on a pitch from Regnault. Home plate umpire Ben Levin ruled that Kanzler had swung for strike two. Kanzler argued the call and was immediately ejected.
Chad Christensen hopped off the bench and inherited an 0-2 count. On the next pitch, Christensen served a single into right field that plated two Miracle runs. Then, as Vielma was digging into the box, Regnault was guilty of a balk that forced a third Miracle run to the plate, 6-0.
Knecht added insurance in the eight with an RBI single into center to bring home Max Kepler. Knecht finished the evening 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, RBI and run scored.
Molina went five innings for St. Lucie and gave up six runs, but only two were earned, on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Florida Gulf Coast University alum Ricky Knapp pitched the eighth and allowed a run for the Mets.
The Miracle (4-5) return to Hammond Stadium on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. for a rematch with St. Lucie (5-4). Ethan Mildren (0-1) is set to start for the Miracle opposite Logan Tyler (0-0) for the Mets. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the legendary former Miami Hurricanes football coach Howard Schnellenberger tomorrow. Schnellenberger will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures during the game. Saturday is also the first Dog Daze of Summer where fans can bring their puppies to the ballpark.
For tickets and information, call (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.
Hu (1-0) allowed just three base runners and went to a three ball count just twice. Issuing only one walk and giving up two hits, Hu faced only three over the minimum in his seven innings. Tim Shibuya and J.T. Chargois completed the shutout with each tossing a scoreless frame. Shibuya gave up one hit in the eighth and Chargois put the Mets down 1-2-3 in the ninth while hitting 99 MPH on the radar gun.
The Miracle offense was lifted by Jason Kanzler in the second inning. After busting an 0-for-23 slump in Thursday's game with a bunt single, Kanzler opened the scoring with a long two-run homer off Mets starter Marco Molina. Marcus Knecht started the inning with a four-pitch walk. Then, Molina (0-1) fanned Logan Wade and Michael Quesada back-to-back. Kanzler stepped up and demolished a first pitch fastball beyond the Sun Harvest Citrus lawn in left field to put the Miracle up 2-0. The homer was Kanzler's first of the season.
In the fifth, Kanzler again ignited the offense with a lead-off double down the third base line. Engelb Vielma attempted a bunt that rolled just past the pitcher's mound. Molina made a sliding stop, but threw wild to first. The throw ricocheted into right field and Kanzler raced home to push the Miracle lead to 3-0. The play was scored a hit for Vielma and a throwing error allowing the run to score.
Fort Myers blew the game open in the sixth. Mitch Garver singled into left to start the inning and Max Kepler reached on a fielder's choice error by Dominic Smith that moved Garver to third. Molina walked Knecht to load the bases and exited in favor of St. Lucie lefty Kyle Regnault.
Entering with the bases loaded, Regnault struck out Wade and Quesada for the first two outs. Kanzler was down 0-1, when he checked his swing on a pitch from Regnault. Home plate umpire Ben Levin ruled that Kanzler had swung for strike two. Kanzler argued the call and was immediately ejected.
Chad Christensen hopped off the bench and inherited an 0-2 count. On the next pitch, Christensen served a single into right field that plated two Miracle runs. Then, as Vielma was digging into the box, Regnault was guilty of a balk that forced a third Miracle run to the plate, 6-0.
Knecht added insurance in the eight with an RBI single into center to bring home Max Kepler. Knecht finished the evening 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, RBI and run scored.
Molina went five innings for St. Lucie and gave up six runs, but only two were earned, on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Florida Gulf Coast University alum Ricky Knapp pitched the eighth and allowed a run for the Mets.
The Miracle (4-5) return to Hammond Stadium on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. for a rematch with St. Lucie (5-4). Ethan Mildren (0-1) is set to start for the Miracle opposite Logan Tyler (0-0) for the Mets. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the legendary former Miami Hurricanes football coach Howard Schnellenberger tomorrow. Schnellenberger will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures during the game. Saturday is also the first Dog Daze of Summer where fans can bring their puppies to the ballpark.
For tickets and information, call (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.