LeBlanc sturdy, Miracle blow out Jupiter, 10-1
Offense collects 10 runs on 15 hits with all nine batters earning a hit
FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 2, 2016) - The Fort Myers Miracle churned out 10 runs on 15 hits to blow out the Jupiter Hammerheads, 10-1, at Hammond Stadium on Saturday evening.
For a fifth consecutive game, the Miracle plated the first run of the game. In the first inning, T.J. White led off with a single into right center off Jupiter starter Michael Mader. After A.J. Murray lined out to left, Nick Gordon singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Trey Vavra then hit a deep fly ball to center field. Jeremias Pineda made the catch, but White tagged and crossed home from third, 1-0.
In the second, the Miracle continued a recent surge of power at the plate. Mader's first pitch to Edgar Corcino was blasted 391 feet to left field for a solo homer, 2-0. Corcino now has five home runs this season.
The next inning, Marray launched his first home run in the Florida State League. With two outs and nobody on, Murray hammered an 0-1 pitch from Mader (3-5) onto the SunHarvest Citrus lawn, 376 feet from home plate, to put the Miracle up 3-0.
Fort Myers doubled the lead in the fourth. Vavra started the inning with a double and Corcino worked a walk, but Mader recorded two outs without the base runners advancing. Then, Tanner Witt stroked a two-run double into dead center. Witt scored two pitches later on a Brian Navarreto RBI single through the left side, 6-0.
In the sixth, the Hammerheads got on the board against Miracle starter Randy LeBlanc. Rehiner Cordova led off with a single through the left side and Pineda followed with a bunt single. LeBlanc (2-2) then induced a double play from Dexter Kjerstad. With two outs and a runner at third, John Norwood doubled down the third base line and Cordova scored, 6-1.
The Miracle offense continued to produce runs. Against Jupiter reliever Scott Squier in the sixth, Fort Myers posted two more runs. With one out, the Miracle loaded the bases on singles from LaMonte Wade and Joe Maloney while Witt earned a walk. Navarreto then beat out a near double play on the relay to first after a force out at second and Wade scored. White followed with a two-out RBI hit on a grounder to the right side, 8-2.
In the seventh, Maloney added a bases loaded RBI double off Squier and in the eighth Gordon tallied a two-out, RBI triple off reliever Andy Beltre, 10-1.
All nine hitters in the Miracle order collected a hit with eight of the nine scoring a run and picking up an RBI.
LeBlanc went seven innings to pick up his second win while scattering five hits and giving up only one run. Recording two strikeouts, LeBlanc totaled only one out in the outfield and 16 ground ball outs.
The Miracle (41-37, 7-2) finish a three-game series with the Hammerheads (36-42, 5-5) on Sunday at 6:05 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for Independence Weekend festivities that will conclude with a spectacular fireworks show after the game is completed. The hassle-free pyrotechnics display is courtesy of Budweiser, CenturyLink, Beasley Broadcasting and FOX 4. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (239) 768-4210 or order online at www.miraclebaseball.com.
For a fifth consecutive game, the Miracle plated the first run of the game. In the first inning, T.J. White led off with a single into right center off Jupiter starter Michael Mader. After A.J. Murray lined out to left, Nick Gordon singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Trey Vavra then hit a deep fly ball to center field. Jeremias Pineda made the catch, but White tagged and crossed home from third, 1-0.
In the second, the Miracle continued a recent surge of power at the plate. Mader's first pitch to Edgar Corcino was blasted 391 feet to left field for a solo homer, 2-0. Corcino now has five home runs this season.
The next inning, Marray launched his first home run in the Florida State League. With two outs and nobody on, Murray hammered an 0-1 pitch from Mader (3-5) onto the SunHarvest Citrus lawn, 376 feet from home plate, to put the Miracle up 3-0.
Fort Myers doubled the lead in the fourth. Vavra started the inning with a double and Corcino worked a walk, but Mader recorded two outs without the base runners advancing. Then, Tanner Witt stroked a two-run double into dead center. Witt scored two pitches later on a Brian Navarreto RBI single through the left side, 6-0.
In the sixth, the Hammerheads got on the board against Miracle starter Randy LeBlanc. Rehiner Cordova led off with a single through the left side and Pineda followed with a bunt single. LeBlanc (2-2) then induced a double play from Dexter Kjerstad. With two outs and a runner at third, John Norwood doubled down the third base line and Cordova scored, 6-1.
The Miracle offense continued to produce runs. Against Jupiter reliever Scott Squier in the sixth, Fort Myers posted two more runs. With one out, the Miracle loaded the bases on singles from LaMonte Wade and Joe Maloney while Witt earned a walk. Navarreto then beat out a near double play on the relay to first after a force out at second and Wade scored. White followed with a two-out RBI hit on a grounder to the right side, 8-2.
In the seventh, Maloney added a bases loaded RBI double off Squier and in the eighth Gordon tallied a two-out, RBI triple off reliever Andy Beltre, 10-1.
All nine hitters in the Miracle order collected a hit with eight of the nine scoring a run and picking up an RBI.
LeBlanc went seven innings to pick up his second win while scattering five hits and giving up only one run. Recording two strikeouts, LeBlanc totaled only one out in the outfield and 16 ground ball outs.
The Miracle (41-37, 7-2) finish a three-game series with the Hammerheads (36-42, 5-5) on Sunday at 6:05 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for Independence Weekend festivities that will conclude with a spectacular fireworks show after the game is completed. The hassle-free pyrotechnics display is courtesy of Budweiser, CenturyLink, Beasley Broadcasting and FOX 4. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (239) 768-4210 or order online at www.miraclebaseball.com.