Vavra's blast sends Miracle to 5-4 extra inning win
Real's homer tied the game in the eighth
DUNEDIN, Fla. (May 19, 2016) -Trey Vavra's solo homer gave the Fort Myers Miracle a 5-4 lead in the top of the 12th inning and Brandon Peterson nailed down the save to defeat the Dunedin Blue Jays in extra frames on Thursday evening at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.
Facing Alonzo Gonzalez in his second inning of work out of the Dunedin bullpen, Vavra cracked a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left field to break a 4-4 tie. Vavra's homer was his fifth of the season.
In the bottom of the 12th, Peterson struck out the first two hitters before allowing a double to Ryan McBroom. A wild pitch then moved McBroom to third base, but Peterson rallied to strike out Anthony Alford and nail down the Miracle victory in a back-and-forth battle.
Nick Gordon put the Miracle on the board in the first inning. With one out, Chris Paul doubled on an 0-2 pitch from Dunedin starter Justin Shafer. Gordon then ripped an 0-1 delivery from Shafer (0-1) through the right side to plate Paul and give the Miracle a brief 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Blue Jays struck for a pair of runs off Miracle starter Felix Jorge. Derrick Loveless led off with a hit, but was retired at second base when Richard Urena hit into a force play. Urena advanced to second on a Jason Leblebijian hit to left field. Ryan McBroom then doubled off the wall in left center to score Urena and Leblebijian, 2-1.
Gordon rallied the Miracle even again in the top of the third. Chad Christensen drew a walk to start the inning then advanced to second on a Logan Wade fly out to center field. Paul followed with a single that pushed Christensen to third. With runners on the corners, Gordon doubled off the wall in center field to drive in his second run and tie the game, 2-2.
Dunedin regained the advantage in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Anthony Alford reached on an error by Gordon at short. Jonathan Davis then sent Jorge pitch over the wall in left center field for a two-run homer and 4-2 Blue Jays lead.
The Miracle crept closer in the fifth. Christensen led off with a single, but was forced out at second base when Wade hit a chopper to Leblebijian. Paul then stepped up and doubled down the third base line to bring in Wade and cut the D-Jay advantage to a run, 4-3.
Alex Real tied the game back up in the top of the eighth with a solo homer off Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza. On a 1-1 pitch, Real hooked a hanging curve ball over the left field fence for his third homer of the season and bring the Miracle even, 4-4.
The Miracle (22-18) return to Hammond Stadium on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. to begin a four-game series with the Tampa Yankees and a seven-game homestand. Barry Williams, the actor who played Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch, will be at Hammond Stadium on Friday signing autographs, posing for pictures, greeting fans, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch and singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch. Barry Williams' appearance is presented by Good Deals Appliances and Whirlpool.
Fans can purchase tickets by calling (239) 768-4210 or ordering online at www.miraclebaseball.com.
Facing Alonzo Gonzalez in his second inning of work out of the Dunedin bullpen, Vavra cracked a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left field to break a 4-4 tie. Vavra's homer was his fifth of the season.
In the bottom of the 12th, Peterson struck out the first two hitters before allowing a double to Ryan McBroom. A wild pitch then moved McBroom to third base, but Peterson rallied to strike out Anthony Alford and nail down the Miracle victory in a back-and-forth battle.
Nick Gordon put the Miracle on the board in the first inning. With one out, Chris Paul doubled on an 0-2 pitch from Dunedin starter Justin Shafer. Gordon then ripped an 0-1 delivery from Shafer (0-1) through the right side to plate Paul and give the Miracle a brief 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Blue Jays struck for a pair of runs off Miracle starter Felix Jorge. Derrick Loveless led off with a hit, but was retired at second base when Richard Urena hit into a force play. Urena advanced to second on a Jason Leblebijian hit to left field. Ryan McBroom then doubled off the wall in left center to score Urena and Leblebijian, 2-1.
Gordon rallied the Miracle even again in the top of the third. Chad Christensen drew a walk to start the inning then advanced to second on a Logan Wade fly out to center field. Paul followed with a single that pushed Christensen to third. With runners on the corners, Gordon doubled off the wall in center field to drive in his second run and tie the game, 2-2.
Dunedin regained the advantage in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Anthony Alford reached on an error by Gordon at short. Jonathan Davis then sent Jorge pitch over the wall in left center field for a two-run homer and 4-2 Blue Jays lead.
The Miracle crept closer in the fifth. Christensen led off with a single, but was forced out at second base when Wade hit a chopper to Leblebijian. Paul then stepped up and doubled down the third base line to bring in Wade and cut the D-Jay advantage to a run, 4-3.
Alex Real tied the game back up in the top of the eighth with a solo homer off Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza. On a 1-1 pitch, Real hooked a hanging curve ball over the left field fence for his third homer of the season and bring the Miracle even, 4-4.
The Miracle (22-18) return to Hammond Stadium on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. to begin a four-game series with the Tampa Yankees and a seven-game homestand. Barry Williams, the actor who played Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch, will be at Hammond Stadium on Friday signing autographs, posing for pictures, greeting fans, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch and singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch. Barry Williams' appearance is presented by Good Deals Appliances and Whirlpool.
Fans can purchase tickets by calling (239) 768-4210 or ordering online at www.miraclebaseball.com.