Jay carves up Mets, 4-0
Tyler Jay hurled eight brilliant innings and totaled a season-high 11 strikeouts to guide the Fort Myers Miracle to a 4-0 shutout of the St. Lucie Mets Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium.
Jay (4-4) and Miracle reliever Yorman Landa faced just one over the minimum batters while the defensive trio of shortstop Engelb Vielma, second baseman Nick Gordon and first baseman Alex Real turned three double plays. Jay recorded at least one strikeout in each inning pitched, including three in the sixth after a lead-off single by Tomas Nido.
After going to a 3-1 count on Champ Stuart to begin the fourth inning, Jay did not enter a two-ball count for the remainder of his time in the game while also throwing a first pitch strike to 19 of 25 batters. Totaling 98 pitches, 73 for strikes, Jay lowered his ERA on the season to 2.44.
Edgar Corcino provided a two-out, two-run triple to start a three-run inning and put the Miracle out front 3-0 after one frame. Tanner Witt initialized the rally by working a walk from St. Lucie starter Josh Prevost. Gordon then rolled out to first base on a hit-and-run and Witt moved to second. Prevost (3-6) issued a base on balls to Alex Real. Corcino then ripped a 1-0 pitch that kicked up chalk down the right field line. Witt and Real scored while Corcino slid into third safely.
On the next pitch, Chris Paul hit a soft dribbler to third base. Jhoan Urena raced in and attempted a barehand pickup, but the ball rolled under his fingertips. Paul reached on an infield single and was credited with an RBI as Corcino scored.
The Miracle added an insurance run in the seventh. With two outs, Mets reliever Robert Coles issued a walk to Vielma. Witt stepped in to the batters box. On a 1-1 pitch, Vielma took off and stole second base on a Coles outside pitch. Witt then lined the 2-1 delivery from Coles into the gap in right center field. Vielma scored standing and pushed the Miracle advantage to 4-0.
Landa recorded the final three outs in the ninth to seal the seventh shutout win for Fort Myers this season. The Miracle snapped a three-game losing streak.
The series continues Wednesday when the Miracle (26-26) host the Mets (25-26) at Hammond Stadium on Islands Night at 7:05 p.m.
Stone Crabs 5, Miracle 1: Charlotte finished off a three-game weekend sweep Sunday that was aided by a series of Miracle errors.
The Stone Crabs jumped out on top in the second inning. Grant Kay, who had singled to center with one out, stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Miracle catcher Brian Olson. Jace Conrad then singled to score Kay.
The Stone Crabs in-creased their lead to 3-0 one inning later and added an unearned run in the fourth.
The Miracle spoiled the shutout in the seventh inning. Alex Real singled to left with one out, went to third on a single by Chris Paul, and scored on Logan Wade’s groundout to second.
Stone Crabs 9, Miracle 2: Charlotte burst out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning of Saturday’s rout.
Miracle starter Stephen Gonsalves (5-2) lasted six innings and surrendered three runs, two earned, on nine hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Stone Crabs 3, Miracle 2: Charlotte scored the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday to open a three-game series with Fort Myers.
Tied 2-2 entering the final half inning, Miracle reliever John Curtiss issued a walk to Alec Sole after recording a perfect eighth. Bralin Jackson pushed a bunt past the mound with the intent to move Sole into scoring postion. Curtiss (0-2) bounced off the rubber, grabbed the ball, spun and threw wild to first base. The error allowed Sole to reach third.
Curtiss struck out Christian Toribio, but the first pitch to Jace Conrad was wild scoring Sole.
Miracle 6, Cardinals 2: Fort Myers salvaged one game to avoid a sweep against Palm Beach last Thursday at Hammond Stadium.
Fort Myers starter Felix Jorge was brilliant over seven shutout frames. Jorge threw 107 pitches, 72 strikes while striking out five, issuing two walks and scattering five hits. Jorge recorded 10-of-21 outs on the ground an lowered his ERA to 1.73.