Miracle Blanks Cardinals 7-0

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Minnesota Twins' All-Star catcher Joe Mauer hit a three run homer and drove in four as the Fort Myers Miracle (31-30) shut out the Palm Beach Cardinals (25-36) by a final of 7-0 Friday night at Hammond Stadium. With the win the Miracle claim two-of-three in the series and move into a tie for first place in the Florida State League South division, with the Cardinals trailing by six games with nine to play in the first-half season.

Bryan Augenstein (0-2, 19. 29 ERA) suffered his second loss in as many outings with Palm Beach, giving up three runs off three hits in just 1.2 innings-pitched. Augenstein, currently listed on the St. Louis Cardinals 60-day disabled list with a right groin strain, gave up two runs in 0.2 innings in his first rehab appearance June 7.

The first inning was all about the Major Leaguers in both lineups, as Augenstein gave up a leadoff single to Twins shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka and then a bunt single to Miracle center fielder Aaron Hicks. Mauer then delivered what would prove to be the big blow of the game, a towering three-run homer to left that put Fort Myers on top 3-0. Mauer and Nishioka are both on the Twins 60-day disabled list with leg injuries.

Augenstein struck out the first two men he faced in the second before being removed from the game in favor of Chris Corrigan, who recorded the final out of the inning before turning it over to originally-scheduled starter John Gast to begin the third.

Gast cruised through his first two innings before allowing single runs in the fifth and sixth, with Nishioka recording a RBI-fielder's choice in the fifth and Nick Romero driving home a run with a groundout the following frame. The potential damage in the sixth was minimized, however, when Rainel Rosario gunned down Danny Rams at home on a would-be sacrifice fly to end the inning.

The Miracle added to their 5-0 lead in the seventh after Gast loaded the bases with a single, a hit batter and a walk that led to a run-scoring free-pass to Mauer. Aaron Terry replaced Gast after the bases-loaded walk and gave up a sacrifice fly to give the Miracle a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Cardinals offense, just one night after scoring a season-high 11 runs, managed practically nothing against Miracle starter Tom Stuifbergen (2-4, 3.74 ERA), who lasted six shutout innings allowing just five hits. The Fort Myers bullpen was equally impressive, as Matthew Tone and Andrew Albers combined to pitch three perfect innings to finish the ballgame.

Xavier Scruggs extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the second-longest active streak in the FSL, and led the team with two hits.

Palm Beach returns home tomorrow night to begin a three-game series with the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Roger Dean Stadium as right-hander Jordan Swagerty (1-1, 2.50 ERA) takes on righty Alex Colome (2-4, 4.62 ERA) at 6:35 p.m. It's also Dog Days and the Cub/Boy Scout Sleepover at the 'Dean.'

For more information on the Palm Beach Cardinals, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit www.palmbeachcardinals.com. For tickets and more information regarding Roger Dean Stadium, please visit www.rogerdeanstadium.com.