Bullpen holds off Mets 1-0
PORT ST. LUCIE – The Fort Myers Miracle used three pitchers to shut out the St. Lucie Mets 1-0 in the series finale Wednesday night.
After four scoreless frames, the Miracle scored in the top of the fifth. Ryan Walker pulled an 0-1 pitch from Mets starter Kevin McGown down the first base line for a triple. Chad Christensen then hit a deep fly ball to center. Kyle Johnson made the catch, but Walker trotted home on the sacrifice fly for the game’s only run.
The Mets nearly answered in the bottom of the fifth. With two out, Colton Plaia singled into center off Miracle starter Kohl Stewart (5-7), who struck out Johnson, but a passed ball allowed Johnson to reach. Jeff McNeil then singled into shallow left-center. Zack Granite grabbed the ball and fired a one-hop throw to home plate and Plaia was tagged out by Michael Quesada to end the inning.
Stewart left the game after 6 2/3 shutout innings while scattering eight hits. Throwing 63 strikes on 97 pitches, Stewart walked just one and fanned five.
Corey Williams replaced Stewart with a man at second and two outs in the seventh. Williams struck out McNeil to end the threat. Then, Williams tossed a perfect eight with a second strikeout.
In the ninth, the Miracle called in Trevor Hildenberger for the save opportunity. Hildenberger navigated a lead-off single by Stefan Sabol to retire the side and notch his first save in a Miracle jersey.
With the win, the Miracle took two of the three games in the series and split the season battle with the Mets 9-9.
The Miracle (63-54, 25-22) return to Hammond Stadium Thursday to open a three-game homestand against the Palm Beach Cardinals. Luke Westphal (3-3) is expected to start for the Miracle.