Comeback fuels heated Miracle win
The Fort Myers Miracle knocked off the Daytona Tortugas 9-5 in a heated affair at Hammond Stadium Thursday night with 4,614 fans in attendance for Islands Night.
After three scoreless innings by Miracle starter Kohl Stewart, the Tortugas put a four-spot up in the top half of the fourth. Daytona sent eight men to the plate and received RBI hits from Sebastian Elizalde and Jon Matthews while other runs scored on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice.
Trailing 4-0, the Miracle retaliated in the bottom of the fourth with a four runs off Daytona starter Sal Romano. Chad Christensen led off with a five-pitch walk and advanced around the diamond on three wild pitches by Romano.
After Mitch Garver struck out, Bryan Haar walked. Jason Kanzler bounced a single through the left side to put runners at first and second. Romano got Logan Wade to ground out, but Carlton Daal’s throw sailed into left field and Haar scored. Kanzler moved up to third and Wade to second on the error. Pinch-hitting for Engelb Vielma, Tanner Vavra singled through the right side to knock in Kanzler and cut the Tortugas lead to 4-3.
Zack Granite stepped up and lifted a fly ball into center field for a sacrifice fly as Wade scored the tying run.
Daytona regained the lead in the fifth off Miracle reliever Corey Williams. After issuing a lead off walk to Phillip Ervin, Alex Blandino singled into right field. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position and Elizalde sent a sacrifice fly into center to drive in Ervin and put the Tortugas up 5-4.
In the sixth, Wade sent a majestic fly 379-feet and over the right field fence for a solo home run off Tortugas reliever Joe Mantoni. The home run was Wade’s second of the season and tied the game 5-5.
The Miracle took the lead in the bottom of the seventh with a second four-run frame. Mantoni (1-2) gave up an infield hit to Ryan Walker to start the inning. Alex Swim followed with a single through the right side. After Christensen struck out, Garver yanked an RBI single down the third base line to give the Miracle a lead at 6-5. Mantoni fanned Haar and walked Kanzler to load the bases with two outs.
Wade delivered a two-run, two-out single through the left side on a 1-1 count off Tortugas reliever Nolan Becker to extend the advantage to 8-5. Becker then hit Vavra with a first pitch to load the bases again. Granite earned a four-pitch walk to bring in another run, 9-5.
Todd Van Steensel entered the game with two runners aboard in the eighth and no outs. Van Steensel retired the side with a double play and a pop out in foul ground. Remaining in the game in the ninth, Van Steensel got Junior Arias to ground out to first base for the first out.
Van Steensel’s first pitch to the next hitter plunked Alex Blandino. Afterwards, the benches from both teams cleared resulting in four Daytona ejections. When the dust settled, Van Steensel returned to the hill and struck out pinch-hitter Wendell Soto and got Robert Ramirez to fly out to center to end the game. The save for Van Steensel is his eighth of the season.
The Miracle have won three in a row and nine of the last 11 games. Fort Myers (34-32) goes for the series sweep against Daytona (37-29) Thursday night.