Miracle Baseball

AUDIO: Baxendale shines in 6-1 win over Flying Tigers

5.23 Highlights

LAKELAND, Fla. (May 23, 2013) - D.J. Baxendale stymied the Lakeland Flying Tigers in a series-splitting Fort Myers Miracle win, 6-1, at Joker Marchant Stadium on Thursday.

Baxendale (7-0) hurled seven innings for a fourth consecutive start and allowed just one unearned run with four strikeouts and two walks. Baxendale has not given up an earned run in the month of May, spanning 28 innings. The 10th round draft pick in 2012 leads the Florida State League in wins and earned run average which now sits at 0.94.

The Miracle built a 4-0 lead with runs in each of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the third, Miguel Sano plated Aderling Mejia pulling an 0-1 pitch down the third base line on a hit-and-run to put the Miracle up 1-0.

Drew Leachman picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Kennys Vargas had a run-scoring double in the fifth. Angel Morales led off the sixth inning with his fourth homer of the season. Morales launched a 1-0 pitch from Lakeland starter Hudson Randall over the left field wall to give the Miracle a 4-0 advantage.

In the sixth inning, the Flying Tigers picked up an unearned run on a two-out triple by Steven Moya. The Miracle answered with two runs in the top of the ninth including an RBI sacrifice fly from Vargas.

For the Miracle, Nelvin Fuentes pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth and Corey Williams stranded the bases loaded in the ninth to preserve the win.

AUDIO: Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan talks with Brice Zimmerman about the Miracle

Terry Ryan Interview

This week, Minnesota Twins General Manager Terry Ryan watched the Fort Myers Miracle play at Hammond Stadium and Charlotte SportsPark. Miracle broadcaster Brice Zimmerman talked with Ryan about top prospects Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Kennys Vargas, Taylor Rogers, D.J. Baxendale and much more.

AUDIO: Miracle machine posts 9-2 win over Crabs

5.18 Highlights

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (May 18, 2013) - The Fort Myers Miracle churned out nine runs on 11 hits to knock off the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 9-2, on Saturday night at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Miracle jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Stone Crabs starter Mike Montgomery. Levi Michael lead off with a walk and Aderling Mejia followed with a bloop single into center. A Montgomery wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Eddie Rosario hit a one-hopper to second to score Michael. After a Miguel Sano strikeout, Kennys Vargas delivered a two-out, RBI single through the right side to bring home Mejia.

Angel Morales continued his scorching bat against the Charlotte Stone Crabs in the fourth inning. Morales roped a 2-1 pitch from Montgomery into left center field to score two. Then, Morales swiped third base and scored on a single from John Murphy to cap off a three-run inning and give the Miracle a 5-0 lead. Morales is now 13-for-28 with five doubles and 11 RBI in eight games against the Stone Crabs this season.

Sano smacked a two-out RBI triple in a two-run fifth and added an RBI single in the seventh. Vargas finished the night 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Starter Jason Wheeler gave the Miracle a quality start with only two runs allowed on six hits over six innings. Wheeler (5-0) struck out three with no walks.

Stone Crab starter Mike Montgomery lasted just 4.2 innings and gave up seven runs, six earned, on seven hits. Montgomery (0-1) walked two and fanned four.

AUDIO: Baxendale pitches seven scoreless, Miracle bats pound Charlotte 8-0

5.17 Highlights

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (May 17, 2013) - D.J. Baxendale and Matt Hauser combined to toss a second consecutive shutout by the Fort Myers Miracle pitching staff in an 8-0 win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Friday at Charlotte Sports Park.

Reigning Florida State League Player of the Week D.J. Baxendale pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and recording three strikeouts. Baxendale (6-0) has now lowered his earned run average to 1.07.

Hauser entered in the eighth inning and was perfect in the final two innings.

The Miracle took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off Stone Crabs starter Ryan Carpenter. With two outs and the bases loaded, Angel Morales hit a deep line drive to center field that deflected off Charlotte center fielder Kes Carter's glove for a three-run triple.

In the second, Stephen Wickens delivered a second run-scoring triple for the Miracle. Wickens sent a line drive on the first pitch from Carpenter into right field. Drew Vettleson tried to make a diving catch, but the ball bounced past him and to the wall. John Murphy, who had reached on a single, scored to push the advantage to 4-0.

Fort Myers extended the lead to 7-0 with three runs in the fifth. Again, the Miracle struck with two outs. With Miguel Sano on first, Kennys Vargas hit line drive over the left field fence for his seventh home run of the season. Then, Morales recorded his second triple of the game and scored shortly afterwards on a double from Jairo Rodriguez.

Sano added a solo homer in the seventh. His lead leading eleventh of the year, Sano hit a screaming line drive over the left field fence off Crabs reliever Eliazer Suero.

AUDIO: Rogers shuts down Jays, Miracle win 2-0

5.16 Highlights

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 16, 2013) - Taylor Rogers pitched seven scoreless innings and the Fort Myers Miracle shutout the Dunedin Blue Jays, 2-0, to split the series in a game four finale at Hammond Stadium on Thursday night.

Rogers (3-1) was dominant and scattered five hits with only one walk and eight strikeouts. Rogers' earned run average is now at 1.55 in five appearances, four starts, since joining the Miracle on April 22.

After stranding five base runners in the first three innings, the Miracle offense finally pushed a run across against Dunedin starter Jesse Hernandez. With one out, Angel Morales doubled into right field and advanced to third base on a single into center from Drew Leachman. John Murphy then hit a high chopper to the left side and beat out the throw for an infield single as Morales touched home to put the Miracle up, 1-0.

Fort Myers added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth without the benefit of a hit. With one out, Hernandez (2-4) hit Miguel Sano on a 2-2 pitch. As Kennys Vargas was at the plate, Sano stole second base. The throw from Blue Jay catcher Pierce Rankin bounced into center field and Sano popped up and advanced to third. On a 2-2 pitch from Hernandez, Vargas hit a high fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly to plate Sano and push the Miracle lead to 2-0.

Rogers seasoned his game in the late innings with five of his eight strikeouts coming in the fifth through the seventh. The Miracle bullpen took over in the eighth with Cole Johnson tossing a scoreless frame.

Closer Corey Williams entered for the ninth and was perfect to complete the shutout and pick up his seventh save. The Miracle pitching staff has now thrown five shutouts in the 2013 season.

AUDIO: Blue Jays hold off Miracle, escape with 5-4 victory

5.15 Highlights

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 15, 2013) - The Dunedin Blue Jays fended off a furious 9th inning rally by the Fort Myers Miracle to walk away with a 5-4 win in front of over 4,600 people on Islands Night at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle trailed 5-2 entering the bottom of the ninth but scored two runs without recording an out to cut their deficit to one. However, closer Blake McFarland was brought in and managed to keep the tying run from scoring.

With Angel Morales at second and Eddie Rosario at first, McFarland fielded a bunt from Andy Leer and threw to third to get the lead runner in Morales. McFarland then struck out Levi Michael for the second out. After walking Aderling Mejia to load the bases, McFarland struck out Stephen Wickens with a fastball painted on the outside corner to end the ballgame.

The Miracle rally started with a double by Kennys Vargas off of Dustin Antolin. Matt Koch reached on an error by first baseman K.C. Hobson that allowed Vargas to scored to make it 5-3. Morales was plunked by a pitch that let Koch move to second. Rosario was brought on to pinch hit, and after nearly hitting a game-ending homer that turned foul, he lined a single to plate Koch. The rally would then be quelled when McFarland was brought in.

Fort Myers got on the board first for the 30th time this season when Vargas singled home Mejia in the first. After Dunedin tied the game on Hobson's sixth homer of the season in the second, Leer answered with a home run of his own in the bottom of the inning to put the Miracle back on top, 2-1.

The Blue Jays scored two runs in the fifth off of Kyle Davies, who was making a rehab start. The former seven-year MLB veteran with the Braves and Royals was making his first appearance for the Twins' organization since Minnesota signed him as a free agent in February. Davies allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings.

Hanging onto a 3-2 lead, the Blue Jays tacked on two crucial runs in the top of the ninth. With Tom Stuifbergen pitching, Nick Baligod led off the frame by reaching on an error by Wickens at second. Jon Berti followed with an RBI double to make it 4-2. Stuifbergen settled down to retire Matt Newman and Jon Talley, but Marcus Knecht came up with a clutch two-out RBI single to score Berti and make it 5-2.

Casey Lawrence went an impressive 7 2/3 innings for Dunedin. He held the Miracle to two runs and seven hits. At one point between the first and fifth inning he retired 10 in a row and 13 out of 14.

AUDIO: Miracle plate six with two outs, beat FSL North leading Dunedin, 6-2

5.13 Highlights

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 13, 2013) - In a battle of the two first place teams in the Florida State League, the Fort Myers Miracle defeated the Dunedin Blue Jays 6-2 on Monday at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle (28-8) lead the FSL South Division while the Blue Jays (20-14) entered the four-game series at The Bill as the North Division Leader. The first game of the series was won by the Miracle thanks to their clutch two-out hitting. The Miracle plated all six of their runs with two outs.

Fort Myers got on the board in the first on a two-out, two-run double by Matt Koch, who lined a pitch by Aaron Sanchez just over the first base bag and down the right field line.

The Blue Jays got a run back in the third when Andy Burns singled home Matt Newman, who reached on a walk issued by starter Jason Wheeler. The Jays tied the game temporarily in the fourth when Newman plated Peter Mooney, who Wheeler also walked.

Levi Michael put the Miracle ahead for good in the fourth. Sanchez plunked Angel Morales, and after Jon Murphy grounded out for the second out of the inning, Michael belted a single up the middle that allowed Morales to score easily.

Nate Roberts, playing in his first game for the Miracle since being activated from the disabled list, was hit by a pitch by Tony Davis to force home Koch with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Morales completed the two-out scoring in the seventh when he blasted a pitch from Marco Grifantini to the left-center field gap for a triple that scored Miguel Sano and Kennys Vargas.

Wheeler pitched out of trouble in all five of his innings to pick up his fourth win of the season. He scattered eight hits, walked three and gave up two runs. He stranded six base runners.

Nelvin Fuentes pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Zack Jones recorded the last six outs without allowing a run to end the game.

Sanchez, the No. 1 ranked prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays, took the loss. He went five innings and struggled with his command. He gave up three runs, walked four batters and hit Morales.

No Miracle player had a multi-hit game, but seven of the nine in the lineup registered a hit. Stephen Wickens singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to seven straight games.

AUDIO: Miracle outlast weather, Hammerheads in 5-2 extra innings win

5.10 Highlights

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 10, 2013) - The Fort Myers Miracle scored three runs in the top of the eleventh inning to outlast the Jupiter Hammerheads, 5-2, in extra innings on Friday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

Kennys Vargas delivered a bases loaded single that plated two runs in the eleventh. Stephen Wickens and Eddie Rosario started the rally with back-to-back base hits. Then, Miguel Sano was intentionally walked bringing up Vargas. On the first pitch, Vargas laced a single through the right side to give the Miracle a 4-2 lead. Fort Myers added a run on an RBI fielder’s choice hit into by Angel Morales.

Adrian Salcedo worked around a lead off hit from Ryan Rieger in the eleventh, recording to strikeouts to nail down the extra inning win. Salcedo (3-0) also pitched a scoreless tenth to earn the win.

The Miracle took an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Vargas in the second inning off Hammerheads starter Anthony DeSclafani. Vargas golfed a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence for his sixth homer of the season.

In the fourth inning, Isaac Galloway provided Jupiter with 2-1 lead with his fourth home run of the season. With two out, Ryan Rieger was struck by a pitch from Miracle starter Taylor Rogers. Galloway then worked the count to 3-1 before sending one over the left field fence.

In the sixth inning, both teams would lose their starters due to a one hour, 28-minute rain delay. DeSclafani went 5.1 innings and struck out eight and Miracle starter Taylor Rogers lasted five innings allowing two runs on six hits.

AUDIO: Baxendale shuts down Yankees, 7-0, with 10 strikeouts

5.6 Highlights

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 6, 2013) - D.J. Baxendale ended the Fort Myers Miracle two-game losing streak in emphatic fashion by dominating the Tampa Yankees on Monday at Hammond Stadium.

Baxendale struck out 10 and gave up just three hits in seven innings as the Miracle cruised to a 7-0 win.

The Miracle right hander from the University of Arkansas improved to 5-0 in six starts. He lowered his ERA to a minuscule 1.49 and he now has 35 strikeouts against only six walks in 36 1/3 innings this season.

The Miracle offense helped its starter by scoring in each of the first four innings. In his first game this season for the Miracle, Aderling Mejia doubled to lead off the first and later scored on an sac fly from Eddie Rosario.

Kennys Vargas, who walked three times, came home on a fielders choice in the second and Matt Koch drove home Miguel Sano in the third with a double to put the Miracle ahead 3-0.

The Miracle pulled away in the fourth inning by scoring four runs against Yankees starter Bryan Mitchell. Drew Leachman led off the frame by reaching on an error by short stop Jose Toussen. Jon Murphy followed with an RBI double.

After Stephen Wickens walked, Rosario picked up his second hit of the night with a double. Mitchell delivered a wild pitch that allowed Wickens to score from third and Sano added another run when he singled in Rosario to complete the scoring at 7-0.

That was more than enough for Baxendale, who retired nine of the past 10 batters he faced. Adrian Salcedo struck out three over the final two innings in relief of Baxendale.

Murphy and Rosario each had two hits for the Miracle.

Mitchell took the loss for the Yankees. He lasted four innings and gave up seven hits and seven runs. He walked five batters.

AUDIO: Michael, Miracle walk off, 3-2, in eighth straight win

5.2 Highlights

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 2, 2013) - For the second time in a week, the Fort Myers Miracle utilized a bases loaded walk to clinch victory at Hammond Stadium. Levi Michael earned a base on balls to force in the game-winning run in a 3-2 victory over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday night.

The Miracle trailed 2-1 going into the eighth inning. With runners on first and second with two outs, Miguel Sano chopped a ground ball up the middle for an RBI single off Mets reliever Randy Fontanez that tied the game.

In the ninth, St. Luce manager Ryan Ellis went to the bullpen and brought in T.J. Chism. Kyle Knudson led off with an infield single and Drew Leachman replaced him on the bases. After Andy Leer laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Leachman into scoring position, Stephen Wickens singled into right field to put runners on the corners.

Ellis instructed Chism (0-1) to intentionally walk A.J. Pettersen to load the bases and face Levi Michael. Seeing just four balls in five pitches, Michael’s patience ended the game on a bases loaded walk. The Miracle also won on a bases loaded walk on April 27 over the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

St. Lucie starter Alex Panteliodis made his Florida State League debut and allowed just one run in five innings. Panteliodis’ only blemish was a solo home run off the bat of Kennys Vargas in the fourth.

Miracle starter Jason Wheeler threw five innings and gave up two runs on six hits in a no decision. Wheeler also piled up three walks with two strikeouts. Reliever Cole Johnson pitched two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. Dakota Watts (1-0) grabbed the win after pitching scoreless eighth and ninth innings.