Marauders’ comeback sinks Miracle 4-3
Taking a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning, the Fort Myers Miracle bullpen allowed four unanswered runs as Bradenton walked away with a 4-3 victory Saturday night at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle lost their third straight to the Marauders to open the season.
After scoring three first-inning runs, the Miracle couldn’t capitalize on several scoring opportunities, stranding 12 runners on the bases.
The Miracle put up a fight in both the eighth and ninth innings, but lacked the big base hit to tie the game. With two outs and a man at first in the bottom of the ninth, Michael Harrington slapped a base hit over the head of Bradenton first basemen Calvin Anderson into the right-field corner, but Miracle manager Jake Mauer was forced to hold the tying runner Yangervis Solarte at third. Bradenton closer Noah Krol induced Nick Romero to hit into an inning-ending popup to right field. The Miracle left the bases full in the eighth inning as well, as Chris Cates flew out to center.
The late-inning bullpen meltdown spoiled an impressive starting performance by Miracle hurler Bobby Lanigan. The right-hander threw six shutout innings allowing only two base hits while striking out four and walking none. He retired nine consecutive batters at one point in the game.
After Lanigan kept the Marauders’ lineup in check through the first six innings, Bradenton broke through in the seventh and eighth innings against the bullpen. Australian native Brad Tippett entered in the seventh and struggled with his control, walking two consecutive batters to begin the inning. After picking up two key outs, Tippett loaded the bases with another walk and red hot Marauders third-basemen Jeremy Farrell made him pay with a single that scored two runs, making it 3-2. Farrell has recorded five hits and 12 RBI in the three games.
After Greg Picart singled off Michael Allen with one out in the eighth, the Miracle went to Major League veteran and Twins relief pitcher Ron Mahay, who is spending time in Fort Myers in a rehab stint. The left-hander didn’t have his best stuff, allowing back-to-back extra-base hits resulting in the final two Marauders runs.
Fort Myers jumped out to their early 3-0 lead in the first inning against Bradenton starting pitcher Aaron Pribanic. Michael Harrington drove in two runs with the bases loaded on a single, and Nick Romero followed with an RBI single of his own.
The Miracle (0-3) take Sunday off before heading back to Bradenton Monday night to wrap up their four-game opening series with the Marauders (3-0). They then head to Port Charlotte for three games with the Stone Crabs and finish a seven-game round trip in Palm Beach against the Cardinals.
The Miracle return to Hammond Stadium April 19 to play Port Charlotte.