Miracle KO Marauders 5-1
BRADENTON – The Fort Myers Miracle knocked off the Bradenton Marauders 5-1 Saturday night.
The Miracle broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third. Marauders starter Colten Brewer recorded the first two outs before T.J. White reached on an infield single. Alex Swim then roped a single into right. With two men on, Trey Vavra jumped on a hanging 0-2 breaking ball and served a single into center. White raced home and Vavra earned his first RBI of the season.
Ryan Walker then bounced a slow roller to the left side. Marauders shortstop Kevin Newman attempted to throw out Vavra at second, but his delivery eluded Kevin Kramer and sailed into right field. Swim rounded third and scored on the miscue to put the Miracle up 2-0.
Miracle starter Tyler Jay made his first professional appearance in the rotation and turned in five solid frames. Jay (1-0) posted four scoreless innings before surrendering a two-out RBI single to Kramer to cut the Miracle lead to 2-1. Jay totaled seven strikeouts and limited the Marauders to three hits and three walks.
In the seventh, the Miracle tacked on a pair of runs. Brian Navarreto reached on a walk. After a strikeout of Tanner English, Marauders reliever Luis Heredia got Nick Gordon to hit a ground ball to second base. Kramer threw wild to the bag and Navarreto advanced to third while Gordon scooted to second. White then slapped an RBI single through the right side of a drawn-in infield to add to the Miracle lead. Swim then grounded out, but Gordon crossed home to put the Miracle up 4-1.
The Miracle tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Swim picked up his second RBI of the night on a two-out single through the right side. White and Swim each tallied two hits on the evening.
After Jay exited the game, the Miracle bullpen combined to toss four scoreless innings. Todd Van Steensel entered in the sixth and worked around three walks over two frames. Luke Bard took over in the eighth and earned a two-inning save. Bard fanned three and set six down in order to pick up his first save of the season.
The Miracle (2-1) go for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Marauders (1-2).
Right-hander Keaton Steele will take the mound for the Miracle against Bradenton righty Austin Coley.