Miracle set attendance records
In the final Florida State League regular season game on Sunday, the Fort Myers Miracle lost 5-1 to the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Hammond Stadium, but set an all-time attendance record, average attendance and single-game attendance marks.
A total of 133,817 fans visited the CenturyLink Sports Complex this season, marking the first time the Miracle have surpassed the 130,00 mark in team history. In addition, the Miracle set a new average attendance mark with 2,028 fans over 66 games. On April 10, the Miracle set an all-time single-game attendance record of 9,209 fans.
On the field Sunday, the Miracle (38-31, 76-63 overall) scored the game’s first run against Crabs starter Buddy Borden. With one out in the first, Ryan Walker doubled down the left field line. Mitch Garver’s flyout to right advanced Walker to third. Logan Wade then poked a single through the left side to drive in Walker and put the Miracle up 1-0.
Luke Westphal made the start for the Miracle and navigated four scoreless innings before running into difficulty in the fifth. After a lead-off walk to Justin Williams, one out later Pat Blair singled through the right side. A Westphal (5-6) pitch glanced off the glove of Garver for a passed ball to advance the runners. Mike Marjama launched a 1-0 pitch off the base of the wall in dead center field to score two runs and push the Stone Crabs in front 2-1.
Exiting the game after 4 2/3 innings, Westphal allowed two runs, one earned, on nine hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Brian Gilbert recorded the final out of the fifth, but gave up a two-out RBI single to Williams in the sixth.
Charlotte tacked on two more runs in the eighth off Miracle reliever Zack Jones.
Using five pitchers, Charlotte’s bullpen held the Miracle off the board over seven innings. Isaac Gil recorded the win with three scoreless frames.
Despite the loss, the Miracle finished the season with the best overall record in the Florida State League South Division, but are not headed to the playoffs. Fort Myers closed out the season with a 42-25 record at Hammond Stadium in front of the record-setting crowds.