Miracle are denied sweep
Bradenton Marauder starter Kyle McPherson pitched seven scoreless innings and Robbie Grossman hit a two-run homer to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Fort Myers Miracle 4-0 Friday night at Hammond Stadium.
McPherson (1-0)scattered five hits and struck out six to pick up his first win of the season. Miracle starter Kane Holbrooks lasted six innings and slips to 0-3 after allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout.
In the third inning, Grossman tagged Holbrooks on a 1-0 pitch that exploded off the bat over the fence in right-center field. Benji Gonzalez scored on the homer after reaching on a leadoff walk.
The Marauders added an insurance run in the top of the seventh off Miracle reliever Blake Martin. After a leadoff walk to catcher Carlos Paulino, a sacrifice bunt by Kelson Brown moved Paulino into scoring position. Martin retired Gonzalez on a foul out, but walked Grossman to put two runners aboard. Jarek Cunningham picked up the RBI with a single to left.
Bradenton added another run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch.
Miracle Chris Herrmann (2-for-4) extended his hitting streak to nine games. Nate Hanson’s team- and season-best streak of 12 games with a hits ended on an 0-for-4 evening.
The Miracle (9-7) host the Charlotte Stone Crabs (6-10) to start a three-game series at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.