Cards blast Miracle 10-4 in 10 innings
The Palm Beach Cardinals blitzed the Fort Myers Miracle for six runs in the top of 10th inning Wednesday night en route to a 10-4 victory at Hammond Stadium.
Tied 4-4 entering the 10th, the Cardinals sent 12 batters to the plate against the trio of John Curtiss, Brian Gilbert and Todd Van Steensel out of the Miracle bullpen. The first eight hitters reached before an out was recorded. Blake Drake broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run triple to center with the bases loaded. Michael Pritchard added an RBI on a sacrifice fly, Andrew Sohn drove in a run with a bases loaded walk and Darren Seferina delivered the final blow with an RBI single making it 10-4.
The game had been 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals going into the eighth. Edgar Corcino’s long solo home run to lead off the eighth tied the game 2-2. Corcino’s fourth home run of the season came on a 3-2 pitch.
In the ninth, Curtiss (0-1) entered from the bullpen and struck out the first two Cardinals batters. Then, Allen Staton earned a walk. Steve Bean and Sohn followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to give Palm Beach a two-run edge 4-2.
Nicholas Frey started the ninth on the mound for the Cardinals, but exited after giving up a single to Chad Christensen to start the frame. Nick Gordon tripled in Christensen with a line drive off the wall in right field off reliever Rowan Wick. Gordon remained at third base as Wick (2-0) fanned Chris Paul and got Corcino to ground out.
Down to a final out, Max Murphy hit a line drive to Seferina at second base. On a diving attempt, the ball bounced out of Seferina’s mitt and fell to the ground. Murphy beat the ensuing throw and Gordon scored to tie the game 4-4 and force extra frames.
The Miracle used six pitchers and the Cardinals called on five for the night. Miracle starter Keaton Steele went five innings in a no-decision and allowed one run on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Fort Myers had five players in the lineup record multi-hit nights and totaled 15 hits, but committed five errors. Palm Beach also tallied 15 hits.
The Miracle (24-23) complete a seven-game homestand and three-game series with the Cardinals (22-25) on Thursday at Hammond Stadium.