Jays halt Miracle streak 5-0
Special to the Daily Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com
A bases-clearing double by Cory Patton in the top of the seventh inning Monday night helped the Dunedin Blue Jays secure a 5-0 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle at Hammond Stadium.
The shutout by the Jays halts the seven-game winning streak of the Miracle, who limited to four hits by Robert Ray and Celson Polonco.
Jesus Gonzalez started the Jays’ night in the third with a lead-off double to left. Luis Sanchez (3-for-3) drove in Gonzalez two hitters later with an RBI single to left.
The Miracle had chances in the middle innings, but couldn’t get a key hit when they needed it the most. The lead-off hitter reached base in three of the first six innings with no runs to show for it.
Before a 1-hour, 10-minute rain delay in the seventh, a rally by Dunedin provided the final margin of victory. A one-out single by Sanchez started the inning followed by a walk to Chris Emanuele. Sean Shoffit then lined a ground-rule double to center, bringing in Sanchez. After an intentional walk to Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia, Patton delivered the bases-clearing double for the final three runs of the night.
Ray got the win allowing the four hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts in his six innings of work. Polonco shut the door in the final three frames picking up three strikeouts in the save.
Jeff Manship (6-2, 3.11) will take the mound for the Miracle against the Blue Jays Tuesday night.