Rogers allows one hit in 1-0 shutout of Jays

DUNEDIN, Fla. (July 18, 2013) - Taylor Rogers hurled a one-hit, complete game shutout to lead the Fort Myers Miracle to a 1-0 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Thursday evening at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Rogers (8-3) faced just three hitters over the minimum and recorded eight strikeouts while inducing 13 ground ball outs. Perfect through the first three innings, Rogers retired the first 11 hitters and the last 10 consecutively.

Locked in a pitcher's duel with Dunedin and MLB rehabilitation starter J.A. Happ, the Miracle finally got Rogers a run. After Happ went five shutout innings with three hits allowed and six strikeouts, highly touted prospect Aaron Sanchez entered the game in the top of the sixth inning.

J.D. Williams, in his second game with the Miracle, doubled down the left field line off Sanchez to lead off. With Byron Buxton at the plate, a wild pitch from Sanchez advanced Williams to third. On a 2-2 pitch, Buxton sent a deep fly ball to center field that was tracked down by Michael Crouse, but allowed Williams to cross home and give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead. Buxton's sacrifice fly would be the only offense of the ballgame.

Dunedin's best opportunity against Rogers would come in the bottom of the sixth. Oliver Dominguez earned a lead off walk, but was tagged out by Levi Michael on a force play hit into by Jon Berti. Pitching out of the stretch, Berti was picked off trying to steal second. The next man up, Peter Mooney, doubled into right center field. After Mooney advanced to third on a wild pitch, Rogers stranded him there by getting Crouse to pop up in foul ground.

Rogers would then pitch a perfect seventh, eighth and ninth inning to seal a Miracle win and complete the shutout.

Sanchez (2-4) was hung with the loss despite allowing just one run on two hits with six strikeouts.

The Miracle (56-35, 12-13) play the third of a four-game series against Dunedin (45-45, 8-16) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Fans can listen to the play-by-play action on www.miraclebaseball.com with the "Voice of the Miracle" Brice Zimmerman. The Square 1 Burgers & Bar pregame show goes on the air at 6:10 p.m.