Miracle clip Blue Jays, 5-2, in Dunedin
Stewart twirls six scoreless, Gordon homers and picks up three hits
DUNEDIN, Fla. (May 16, 2016) - The Fort Myers Miracle defeated the Dunedin Blue Jays, 5-2, at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in the series opener on Monday evening.
Nick Gordon put the Miracle up in the first inning with his second home run of the season. With two outs, Gordon popped a 1-0 pitch from Dunedin starter Brad Allen over the wall in right center field to give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead.
The Miracle extended the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs and sending nine batters to the plate. Brian Navarreto started the rally by drawing a one-out walk from Allen (3-2). Austin Diemer then hit a high chopper to short. Richard Urena's throw to second base sailed into right field. Navarreto advanced to third base.
With runners on the corners, Logan Wade stepped up and pulled a 2-0 pitch down the first base line for a two-run triple with Navarreto and Diemer coming in to score. Chris Paul followed Wade's three-bagger with a double over Anthony Alford's glove to bring in Wade. Gordon posted the third consecutive Miracle hit with a single through the right side and Paul advanced to third base. With Trey Vavra at the dish, Gordon took off and stole second base. D-Jays catcher Michael De La Cruz's throw bounced up in the air off Devon Travis. Paul broke from third and Travis, after recovering the loose ball, threw wild to home plate. Paul scored to put the Miracle up 5-0.
Miracle starter Kohl Stewart struggled with his command, but still dealt six scoreless frames. Stewart (3-1) used 99 pitches, 57 strikes, to navigate three walks and two hit batters to strand eight Blue Jays. Allowing just three hits, Stewart struck out four and lowered his ERA on the season to 1.77.
Brandon Peterson spelled Stewart in the seventh and tossed two perfect frames with three strikeouts. Raul Fernandez pitched the ninth and surrendered a two-run homer to De La Cruz before retiring the side.
Allen exited the game after 4.1 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on seven his with three walks and two strikeouts.
The Miracle (22-16) continue a four-game set with the Blue Jays (15-23) at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. Tyler Jay (3-2) will start on the mound for the Miracle opposite Dunedin's Francisco Rios (0-1). Fans can listen to the action on MiracleBaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 10:40 a.m.
Nick Gordon put the Miracle up in the first inning with his second home run of the season. With two outs, Gordon popped a 1-0 pitch from Dunedin starter Brad Allen over the wall in right center field to give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead.
The Miracle extended the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs and sending nine batters to the plate. Brian Navarreto started the rally by drawing a one-out walk from Allen (3-2). Austin Diemer then hit a high chopper to short. Richard Urena's throw to second base sailed into right field. Navarreto advanced to third base.
With runners on the corners, Logan Wade stepped up and pulled a 2-0 pitch down the first base line for a two-run triple with Navarreto and Diemer coming in to score. Chris Paul followed Wade's three-bagger with a double over Anthony Alford's glove to bring in Wade. Gordon posted the third consecutive Miracle hit with a single through the right side and Paul advanced to third base. With Trey Vavra at the dish, Gordon took off and stole second base. D-Jays catcher Michael De La Cruz's throw bounced up in the air off Devon Travis. Paul broke from third and Travis, after recovering the loose ball, threw wild to home plate. Paul scored to put the Miracle up 5-0.
Miracle starter Kohl Stewart struggled with his command, but still dealt six scoreless frames. Stewart (3-1) used 99 pitches, 57 strikes, to navigate three walks and two hit batters to strand eight Blue Jays. Allowing just three hits, Stewart struck out four and lowered his ERA on the season to 1.77.
Brandon Peterson spelled Stewart in the seventh and tossed two perfect frames with three strikeouts. Raul Fernandez pitched the ninth and surrendered a two-run homer to De La Cruz before retiring the side.
Allen exited the game after 4.1 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on seven his with three walks and two strikeouts.
The Miracle (22-16) continue a four-game set with the Blue Jays (15-23) at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. Tyler Jay (3-2) will start on the mound for the Miracle opposite Dunedin's Francisco Rios (0-1). Fans can listen to the action on MiracleBaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 10:40 a.m.