Miracle succumb to late rally 7-6
VIERA – The Brevard County Manatees scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to come back and defeat the Fort Myers Miracle 7-6 Saturday night.
Holding a one-run lead, 6-5, entering the last half inning, Dallas Gallant remained on the mound after recording the final two outs of the eighth. Gallant struck out Angel Ortega to start the inning and then Omar Garcia was robbed of extra bases on a splendid diving play down the third base line by T.J. White for the second out. Down to a final strike in a 1-2 count, Chris McFarland singled through the left side.
Miracle manager Jeff Smith went to the bullpen and called on Zack Jones to face Clint Coulter. Coulter rolled a base hit up the middle. Jones (0-1) then walked Garrett Cooper to load the bases. On consecutive hitters, Jones hit a batter. An 0-1 pitch struck Taylor Brennan on the jersey to drive in the tying run. A 2-2 delivery clipped Michael Ratterree on the elbow to score a second run and send the Manatees to a walk-off win.
The Manatees scored six unanswered runs to erase a five-run deficit and complete the comeback.
After scoring 12 runs the night before, the Miracle struck for four runs in the first inning against Brevard starter Javier Salas. Lead-off man Zack Granite coaxed a walk to start the frame and moved to second on an infield hit by Engelb Vielma. Mitch Garver then hit a tapper back to the mound. Salas threw wildly to secon and all the runners were safe. Brett Doe then placed a soft liner into center field to plate Granite and the first run of the game.
Ryan Walker followed with a two-run base hit past the diving glove of Cooper at first. Jason Kanzler with a sacrifice fly to cente to bring in Doe and cap the Miracle first at 4-0.
In the second, the Miracle added another run off Salas. Chad Christensen earned a lead-off walk and stole secon. After Michael Quesada flew out, Granite tomahawked a line drive single into right field and Christensen rounded third to cross home.
Brevar got a run back in the second. Miracle starter Kohl Stewart surrendered a single to Cooper and then Brennan hit a double into the right-center field gap. Cooper scored making it 5-1.
The Miracle returned fire in the fourth. Christensen reached on a one-out bloop single into righ and then swiped second base. After a Quesada pop out, Granite slapped a base hit into lef and Christensen scored for a 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatees scored an unearned run against Stewart. With one out, Brennan reached on an error by Vielma. Stewart then walked Michael Ratterree and Paul Eschleman to load the bases. Steven Halcomb then hit a weak chopper down the third base line for an infield single as Brennan scored. Stewart then induced a 6-4-3 double play by Angel Ortega to get out of the inning with no further damage.
Cooper added a sacrifice fly to drive in the fifth to slice another run off the Miracle lead,
Stewart exited the game after six innings with three runs allowed, two earned, on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Corey Williams entered in the seventh and had a 1-2-3 inning. Williams returned for the eighth and retired the first hitter, but then gave up a double into the right field corner by Brennan. Ratterree followed with a base hit into center and Brennan scored. Gallant then came into the game and threw two wild pitches that brought in Ratterree to cut the Miracle lead to 6-5.
The Miracle (51-42, 12-10) begin a three-game homestand with the Jupiter Hammerheads Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.