Miracle score 16-inning win
The Fort Myers Miracle outlasted the Jupiter Hammerheads 2-1 in 16 innings at Hammond Stadium Tuesday night.
Logan Wade ended the marathon in the bottom of the 16th with a sacrifice fly. T.J. White led off the inning by reaching on an error by Jupiter second baseman Avery Romero. Jason Kanzler bounced a double down the third base line off Hammerheads reliever Ben Meyer to put runners at second and third with no outs. Meyer (0-1) remained in the game to intentionally walk Chad Christensen and load the bases.
Jupiter brought in Casey McCarthy from the bullpen to face Wade, who roped a line drive into right-center. Cameron Flynn made a diving catch, but White strolled home to end the walk-off win.
Chih-Wei Hu started the game for the Miracle and received a no decision after 6 1/3 innings with just one unearned run allowed on four hits. In the fifth, the Hammerheads got a leadoff single by Romero. Brian Anderson singled to left-center. A rare passed ball by Mitch Garver moved the runners to second and third base. James Roberts sent a 2-2 pitch into left. Wade made the catch, but Romero tagged and scored to put the Hammerheads up 1-0.
Held off the scoreboard for the first eight innings, the Miracle finally broke through in the ninth. With one out, Kanzler smacked an 0-2 pitch from Jupiter closer Tyler Bremer into right-center for a triple. Christensen then stepped up and lined a ball into left-center to score Kanzler and tie the game 1-1.
The Miracle used seven pitchers. The bullpen combined to throw 9 2/3 innings with just three hits allowed and four strikeouts. Brian Gilbert had the longest stint out of the pen, hurling 2 2/3 scoreless frames. Tyler Jay was the only bullpen arm not used by the Miracle.
After taking two of three games from the Hammerheads, the Miracle begin a four-game split series with the Tampa Yankees at Steinbrenner Field Wednesday.