Miracle road trip ends with 6-2 loss
BRADENTON – The Fort Myers Miracle saw their nine-game road trip come to an end with a 6-2 loss to the Bradenton Marauders Thursday night. The Miracle finished the long trip with a 4-5 record.
The Marauders broke a scoreless tie in the home half of the fourth inning as Cole Tucker led off with a triple and scored on Kevin Newman’s sacrifice fly.
Bradenton took control one inning later by scoring four times, thanks to a leadoff home run by Taylor Gushue and a bases-loaded triple off the bat of Newman, to take a 5-0 lead after five.
The Marauders added some insurance in the seventh as Newman delivered again, this time on a one-out RBI double. Newman finished the game with two hits, both for extra bases, in three at bats with five runs batted in.
The Miracle broke the shutout in the eighth inning on an RBI groundout by Trey Vavra, scoring Edgar Corcino, who led off the frame with a walk.
Fort Myers tallied again in the ninth on T.J. White’s two-out double that scored Brian Naverreto to close out the scoring.
Keaton Steele (2-6) started for the Miracle and pitched well, but still suffered the loss. He tossed six innings, allowing five hits and five runs, only two of which were earned, while walking just one and striking out five.
The Miracle (31-35) are hosting the Florida State League All-Star Game Saturday night at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle return to action on Monday when they host the Charlotte Stone Crabs in the first of a three-game series at Hammond Stadium.