Hammerheads score three in eighth, win 6-3
Ard picks up three hits and drives in three to sink Miracle
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 23, 2016) - The Jupiter Hammerheads scored three runs late to surge ahead, 6-3, and defeat the Fort Myers Miracle at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday night.
Miami Marlins reliever Nefi Ogando made a rehab appearance and started the game for the Hammerheads. The Miracle plated two runs off Ogando on three hits. T.J. White led off with a double pulled down the third base line. After Edgar Corcino was retired on a ground ball to second advancing White to third, Nick Gordon doubled over Junior Sosa's head in left to bring in White. Ogando rallied to strikeout Joe Maloney, but Chris Paul delivered a two-out RBI single to right to plate Gordon, 2-0.
Jupiter answered in the bottom of the second against Miracle starter Tyler Jay. Taylor Ard singled to lead off the frame. Jay (5-5) struck out Chris Hoo, but Avery Romero and Brian Schales picked up back-to-back singles to load the bases. Then, pair of Jay wild pitches allowed two runs to score and tie the game, 2-2.
In the third, the Hammerheads pulled ahead by capitalizing on a Miracle mistake. After Jay recorded the first two outs, John Norwood hit a chopper to third base that deflected off the glove of White and was ruled an error. A passed ball moved Norwood to second and Ard singled into left. Norwood scored and Jupiter took a 3-2 lead.
Jay went five innings for the Miracle and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
After the Miracle drew even in the top of the eighth inning on a two-out error by Avery Romero at third base, the Hammerheads plated three runs in the bottom of the inning. Ard cranked a two-run homer off reliever Nick Anderson and Brian Schales added an RBI hit through a drawn-in infield, 6-3. Anderson (0-1) was charged with three runs on four hits.
The Miracle (34-35, 0-0) battle the Hammerheads (31-37, 0-0) in the second game of the series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening at Roger Dean Stadium. Fans can listen to the broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com with the 'Voice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman.
Miami Marlins reliever Nefi Ogando made a rehab appearance and started the game for the Hammerheads. The Miracle plated two runs off Ogando on three hits. T.J. White led off with a double pulled down the third base line. After Edgar Corcino was retired on a ground ball to second advancing White to third, Nick Gordon doubled over Junior Sosa's head in left to bring in White. Ogando rallied to strikeout Joe Maloney, but Chris Paul delivered a two-out RBI single to right to plate Gordon, 2-0.
Jupiter answered in the bottom of the second against Miracle starter Tyler Jay. Taylor Ard singled to lead off the frame. Jay (5-5) struck out Chris Hoo, but Avery Romero and Brian Schales picked up back-to-back singles to load the bases. Then, pair of Jay wild pitches allowed two runs to score and tie the game, 2-2.
In the third, the Hammerheads pulled ahead by capitalizing on a Miracle mistake. After Jay recorded the first two outs, John Norwood hit a chopper to third base that deflected off the glove of White and was ruled an error. A passed ball moved Norwood to second and Ard singled into left. Norwood scored and Jupiter took a 3-2 lead.
Jay went five innings for the Miracle and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
After the Miracle drew even in the top of the eighth inning on a two-out error by Avery Romero at third base, the Hammerheads plated three runs in the bottom of the inning. Ard cranked a two-run homer off reliever Nick Anderson and Brian Schales added an RBI hit through a drawn-in infield, 6-3. Anderson (0-1) was charged with three runs on four hits.
The Miracle (34-35, 0-0) battle the Hammerheads (31-37, 0-0) in the second game of the series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening at Roger Dean Stadium. Fans can listen to the broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com with the 'Voice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman.