Yankees KO Miracle 3-1
The Tampa Yankees scored a pair of runs in the top of the 11th inning to outlast the Fort Myers Miracle 3-1 Wednesday nigh at Hammond Stadiumt.
After two scoreless frames in the ninth and 10th in a 1-1 tie, Miracle reliever Alex Muren allowed a lead-off single to Mark Payton to start the 11th. Tyler Wade then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Payton to second base. Muren (0-1) exited the game after walking Vicente Conde. Brian Gilbert took over on the mound and served up a 2-0 pitch to Mike Ford that was driven off the wall in right center, scoring Payton.
Gilbert then walked Matt Snyder to bring up Kyle Higashioka. On an 0-1 pitch, Higashioka hit a chopper to third base. Goodrum lept up and grabbed the ball, tagged third to retire Ford, but Higashioka beat the throw to first to allow another Yankee run to score, 3-1.
Tampa called on Conor Mullee to close the door. Mullee faced four batters and retired the side to record the save.
The Miracle wasted a splendid start from Twins No. 4 prospect Kohl Stewart. Over a career-high eight innings, Stewart scattered eight hits and two walks while fanning three. Recording 14 outs on the ground, Stewart left the game by stranding the potential go-ahead run at third base and striking out Vicente Conde.
The Yankees only run off Stewart came in the fifth inning. Ericson Leonora led off with a single into center, but was caught stealing by Miracle catcher Mitch Garver. Then, Claudio Custodio was struck by a Stewart fastball, but was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice hit into by Payton.
With two out and a runner at first, Stewart lost control of a pitch to Wade and Payton moved to second on a wild pitch. After working a full count, Wade dropped a single into left and Payton raced home for a 1-0 Tampa lead.
Fort Myers answered in the bottom of the inning, bringing in an unearned run against Yankees starter Rookie Davis. Aderling Mejia reached on a fielding error by second baseman Angelo Gumbs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Marcus Knecht then beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Jason Kanzler tallied his first RBI of the season with a deep fly ball to center field that allowed Mejia to tag up and score from third, 1-1.
Tampa’s bullpen held the Miracle at bay the rest of the game. Luis Niebla tossed two scoreless frames and Andury Acevado escaped a jam unscathed in the eighth inning for a clean inning. Evan Rutckyj tossed the ninth and tenth without issue to earn the win. Rutckyj (1-0) surrendered just one hit and struck out one.
The Miracle (3-4) look to split the series with the Yankees Thursday at Hammond Stadium.