White sends Miracle to 5-4 win with late RBI hit
Fort Myers responds after giving up 4-0 lead
BRADENTON, Fla. (August 4, 2016) - T.J. White delivered the go-ahead and eventual game-winning RBI hit in the eighth inning to send the Fort Myers Miracle to a 5-4 victory over the Bradenton Marauders on Thursday night at McKechnie Field.
After blowing an early four-run lead and entering the eighth tied 4-4, White stepped to the plate with Alex Perez and second base and Daniel Kihle at first base and two outs. Facing Bradenton reliever Luis Heredia, White yanked a 1-2 pitch through the left side hole for a single. Perez was waived home and slid in safely to beat the throw from left fielder Jordan Luplow, 5-4.
Holding a one-run advantage, John Curtiss tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth despite allowing two base runners and Nick Anderson earned his third save in the ninth. White finished the evening 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Miracle offense struck for a run in the top of the first inning for the second straight game. White led off with a single to right center on the first pitch from Marauders starter Buddy Borden. After striking out Nick Gordon, Borden went to a full count on Chris Paul. On the payoff delivery, Paul roped a single to left center and White scored, 1-0.
In the third, the Miracle added three runs and capitalized on two Marauder errors. White started the inning with a fly ball to right that was dropped by Justin Maffei. With White standing at second base, Gordon stroked a single up the middle for an RBI single. Paul followed with his second hit to left center of the night and Gordon raced to third. With LaMonte Wade at the dish, Borden threw a wild pitch that brought Gordon home and pushed Paul to second. Wade coaxed a walk and Joe Maloney hit into a force play that retired the runner at first, putting men on the corners. A.J. Murray then tapped a slow roller to third that was bobbled by Wyatt Mathisen and Paul crossed home on the error, 4-0.
Bradenton tagged Miracle starter Sam Clay in the bottom of the third. After striking out Taylor Gushue to begin the frame, Clay (1-1) allowed five consecutive batters to reach base. Maffei started the rally with a double down the third base line and moved to third when Pablo Reyes singled into center field under the glove of a diving Daniel Kihle. Cole Tucker then bounced a 2-1 pitch up the middle and Maffei crossed home plate. Tito Polo reloaded the bases with a single and Clay issued a walk to Luplow to force in a run, 4-2.
In the sixth, the Marauders drew even with two more runs. Luplow reached on a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on the ensuing throwing error by Brian Navarreto. With a man at third base, Jerrick Suiter hit a chopper down the third base line. Clay grabbed the ball and threw to first, but failed to get Suite and the ball bounced off the glove of White for an error. Luplow scored and Suitor advanced to second base.
Luke Bard replaced Clay on the mound, but could not hold the lead. After striking out Connor Joe, Mathisen singled through the left side and Gushue reached on a walk to load the bases. Maffei then socked a 2-1 pitch into left center to bring in a run and tie the game, 4-4.
Despite allowing an inherited runner to score, Bard (3-1) was credited with two innings of scoreless relief and earned the victory. Heredia (4-3) took the loss for the Marauders.
The Miracle (55-54, 21-19) continue a five-game road trip by opening up a three-game series at Charlotte Sports Park against the Stone Crabs on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Cody Stashak (0-0) will make his Miracle debut opposite Charlotte starter Steve Ascher (0-0). Fans can tune into the broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 6:15 p.m.
After blowing an early four-run lead and entering the eighth tied 4-4, White stepped to the plate with Alex Perez and second base and Daniel Kihle at first base and two outs. Facing Bradenton reliever Luis Heredia, White yanked a 1-2 pitch through the left side hole for a single. Perez was waived home and slid in safely to beat the throw from left fielder Jordan Luplow, 5-4.
Holding a one-run advantage, John Curtiss tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth despite allowing two base runners and Nick Anderson earned his third save in the ninth. White finished the evening 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Miracle offense struck for a run in the top of the first inning for the second straight game. White led off with a single to right center on the first pitch from Marauders starter Buddy Borden. After striking out Nick Gordon, Borden went to a full count on Chris Paul. On the payoff delivery, Paul roped a single to left center and White scored, 1-0.
In the third, the Miracle added three runs and capitalized on two Marauder errors. White started the inning with a fly ball to right that was dropped by Justin Maffei. With White standing at second base, Gordon stroked a single up the middle for an RBI single. Paul followed with his second hit to left center of the night and Gordon raced to third. With LaMonte Wade at the dish, Borden threw a wild pitch that brought Gordon home and pushed Paul to second. Wade coaxed a walk and Joe Maloney hit into a force play that retired the runner at first, putting men on the corners. A.J. Murray then tapped a slow roller to third that was bobbled by Wyatt Mathisen and Paul crossed home on the error, 4-0.
Bradenton tagged Miracle starter Sam Clay in the bottom of the third. After striking out Taylor Gushue to begin the frame, Clay (1-1) allowed five consecutive batters to reach base. Maffei started the rally with a double down the third base line and moved to third when Pablo Reyes singled into center field under the glove of a diving Daniel Kihle. Cole Tucker then bounced a 2-1 pitch up the middle and Maffei crossed home plate. Tito Polo reloaded the bases with a single and Clay issued a walk to Luplow to force in a run, 4-2.
In the sixth, the Marauders drew even with two more runs. Luplow reached on a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on the ensuing throwing error by Brian Navarreto. With a man at third base, Jerrick Suiter hit a chopper down the third base line. Clay grabbed the ball and threw to first, but failed to get Suite and the ball bounced off the glove of White for an error. Luplow scored and Suitor advanced to second base.
Luke Bard replaced Clay on the mound, but could not hold the lead. After striking out Connor Joe, Mathisen singled through the left side and Gushue reached on a walk to load the bases. Maffei then socked a 2-1 pitch into left center to bring in a run and tie the game, 4-4.
Despite allowing an inherited runner to score, Bard (3-1) was credited with two innings of scoreless relief and earned the victory. Heredia (4-3) took the loss for the Marauders.
The Miracle (55-54, 21-19) continue a five-game road trip by opening up a three-game series at Charlotte Sports Park against the Stone Crabs on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Cody Stashak (0-0) will make his Miracle debut opposite Charlotte starter Steve Ascher (0-0). Fans can tune into the broadcast on www.miraclebaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The MiracleBaseball.com pregame show begins at 6:15 p.m.