Miracle win 2-1 on Eades’ gem
JUPITER – Ryan Eades allowed just one run over seven innings Thursday to lead the Fort Myers Miracle to a 2-1 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads and complete a three-game sweep at Roger Dean Stadium.
The win extends the Miracle’s current winning streak to six in a row and back into first place in the Florida State?League’s South Division standings.
The Miracle (11-4, 49-36) return to Hammond Stadium Friday to start a four-game series against the North Division-leading Clearwater Threshers (11-3).
Eades (6-1) and Jupiter starter Miguel Del Pozo dueled over four scoreless innings before the Miracle finally broke the tie in the top of the fifth. Tanner Vavra tripled into the left-center field gap to start the inning. Michael Quesada then reached on an infield hit putting runners on the corners. Logan Wade lifted a fly ball to medium-range left field on which Vavra tagged and scored.
Starting the game with six consecutive outs, Eades gave up a hit in the third and then put down the next nine consecutive Jupiter hitters.
Blake Barber led off the sixth with a bouncing single through the left side. Rodrigo Vigil followed with a single to center. Barber went first to third and Vigil advanced to second on Jason Kanzler’s throw. Yefri Perez drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly to right to score Barber and tie the game. Vigil moved up to third.
Eades then struck out Cameron Flynn for the second out and got Austin Dean to pop up in foul ground to end the inning.
Returning for the seventh, Eades posted a 1-2-3 frame. Over seven innings, Eades allowed three hits with one run, no walks and three strikeouts.
After two scoreless innings by Jupiter reliever Matt Milroy, the Hammerheads went to Tyler Bremer for the eighth. Bremer walked Zack Granite. Kanzler tried to put down a sacrifice bunt, but Bremer hopped off the mound and retired Granite at second base on a force play. Mitch Garver then ripped a 1-1 pitch into the left field corner. Kanzler hustled around the bags and scored from first to put the Miracle on top 2-1.
Dallas Gallant worked around a lead-off walk in the eighth and Todd Van Steensel posted a scoreless ninth for his 11th save of the season.
The Miracle have swept the Hammerheads for the second time this season.