Hammerheads fend off Miracle 3-2
JUPITER – The Jupiter Hammerheads defeated the Fort Myers Miracle 3-2 Saturday night.
The Miracle (16-20) took an early 1-0 lead in the first. Zack Granite led off with a single into center that was misplayed by Yefri Perez allowing Granite to move up two bases to third. Jupiter starter Ryan Newell then struck out Engelb Vielma, but Alex Swim tagged him for an RBI single up the middle.
Jupiter answered in the bottom of the first with an unearned run against Miracle starter David Hurlbut. With one out, Avery Romero lined a single into center and moved to third on a ground out by Austin Dean. Brian Anderson then hit a slow grounder for an infield hit. Niko Goodrum decided not to throw to first, but then tried to throw behind Romero at third and lobbed a ball into left field. Romero scored and tied the game.
Michael Quesada regained the lead for the Miracle in the second. Goodrum led off with a cue shot double down the third base line. Then, on the next pitch, Quesada scorched a drive into deep left that bounced off the warning track and plated Goodrum for a 2-1 Miracle advantage.
In the bottom of the second, Jupiter capitalized on another Miracle miscue. Chris Hoo reached on an infield hit to start the game then moved to third when Hurlbut (0-1) walked Kentrell DeWitt. Then, Rehiner Cordova hit a slow roller that deflected off of Goodrum’s glove at third and trickled into shallow left. Hoo scored to tie the game.
On the error, DeWitt advanced to third and Cordova to second. The Hammerheads took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Yefri Perez, who hit a looping shallow drive to right. Chad Christensen made a sliding grab, but did not attempt a throw home and Jupiter went up 3-2.
Hurlbut took the loss for the Miracle, but went six inning and gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Brandon Peterson pitched two innings of scoreless relief work.
Newell got a no decision for the Hammerheads (15-21) after completing only four innings. Matt Milroy picked up the victory. Milroy (1-0) tossed two perfect frames in relief. C.J. Robinson had a scoreless outing over 1 2/3 innings and Juancito Martinez earned his fourth save.
The Miracle (16-20) will try to avoid a sweep at 1 p.m. Sunday.