Miracle edge Stone Crabs 2-0
Danny Santana and a second consecutive shutout from the pitching staff propelled the Fort Myers Miracle to a 2-0 shutout of the Charlotte Stone Crabs Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.
The Miracle struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning. On an MLB rehabilitation assignment from the Minnesota Twins, Santana led off with a single up the middle off Charlotte starter Justin Marks. Edgar Corcino stepped to the plate, but Santana took off for second on a stolen base attempt. Marks (0-1) threw to first, but Grant Kay’s relay to second pulled Pat Blair off the bag and Santana slid in safely. Corcino then grounded out to short and Santana advanced to third base. Alex Real came to the plate and lofted a 2-1 pitch from Marks into right field for a two-out RBI single as Santana crossed home plate for a 1-0 lead.
Santana struck again in the sixth inning. Benton Moss came out of the Stone Crab bullpen and worked a 2-2 count. Santana launched a pitch deep onto the right field boardwalk that was ruled a foul ball by field umpire Reid Joyner. On the next pitch from Moss, Santana blasted a hanging breaking ball 354 feet beyond the wall that ricocheted off the right field bar. The solo homer by Santana gave the Miracle a 2-0 lead.
Miracle starter Randy Rosario glided through 6 1/3 innings while scattering six hits, no runs and two strikeouts to lower his earned run average to 1.02. In the seventh, Rosario (2-1) exited with one out and two men on base. Luke Bard entered from the bullpen and stranded the inherited runners. Bard remained in the game for a scoreless eighth.
Todd Van Steensel pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save of the season and complete the combined shutout. The Miracle pitching staff tossed back-to-back shutouts to take the series and kept the Stone Crabs off the board over the final 23 innings.
The Miracle (10-8) begin a nine-game road trip with a three-game series at Roger Dean Stadium to battle the Jupiter Hammerheads. \feature.