Fort Myers Miracle Top Brevard County Manatees 5-3 - Advanced A, Florida State League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - FORT MYERS, F.L.  – After waiting almost two hours on Saturday night, the Fort Myers Miracle came out and made the wait worthwhile. The Miracle took advantage of a four-run second inning in a 5-3 win over the Brevard County Manatees. The Manatees out-hit the Miracle 7-3, but also hit two Miracle hitters and walked a half-dozen on the night.
 
Edward Ovalle led off the Miracle second with one of the two hit by pitches, followed by ‘Tees starter Zach Braddock issuing back-to-back walks to Juan Portes and Eli Tintor. With the bases loaded, Steve Singleton made Brevard pay with an RBI-single to left, coupled with an error by Chuck Caufield in left, scoring two runs for the early advantage. Danny Lehmann’s bases-loaded walk and Garrett Olson’s fielder’s choice would bring in runs three and four in the second.
 
Long balls took over late on Saturday as Caufield got the Manatees on the board with a two-run shot to left in the seventh. Olson responded to Caufield’s shot a

Your Ad Here

half-inning later with a blast of his own, a solo-shot to left, putting the Miracle back up three. Finally in the ninth, Stephen Chapman’s solo-HR, his tenth of the year, would round out scoring on the night.
 
Jay Rainville tossed seven solid innings in the win, allowing two runs on three hits, pushing his mark to 1-1. Anthony Slama got a strikeout and groundball in the ninth to retire the final two Manatees earning his 16th save of the season.
 
The series finale takes place on Sunday afternoon with the first-pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. RHP Alex Burnett (6-2, 3.56) is scheduled to start for the Miracle. Sunday’s action can be heard live on the Miracle Baseball Radio Network, WMYR AM-1410/WCNZ AM-1660, beginning with the pre-game show at 12:50 p.m.
 
Due to the lengthy rain delay to start Saturday’s action, fans with ticket stubs for Saturday’s game can hold on to them, using them for free admission to any remaining Miracle Sunday-Wednesday home game in 2008.
 

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!