Miracle win in 9th, 7-6
There are worse things to do for a living than play baseball in Southwest Florida, in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Still, there are times during a long baseball season when fatigue sets in, and the Fort Myers Miracle currently are in the middle of it.
“July is by far the toughest month in any baseball season,” Miracle manager Jeff Smith said. “It’s guys getting a little tired. This is when the legs go a little bit.”
The Miracle may have received a much-needed spark Tuesday night with a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays at Hammond Stadium.
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Miracle (12-13 second half, 55-39 overall) struck for three runs off Dunedin reliever Dumas Garcia.
Jair Fernandez was hit by a pitch with one out and the rally continued with an infield single by Allan De San Miguel.
They cut it to 6-5 when Garcia picked up a grounder by Estarlin De Los Santos and threw wildly to third, scoring Fernandez. Chris Parmelee and Evan Bigley followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give the Miracle the win.
“Pulled that one out. That was fun to see,” Smith said. “The guys needed that for the morale and to get us going again.”
Tuesday’s game was the 94th of the season for the Miracle. There are more than 40 remaining games in the regular season, then the playoffs.
The Miracle secured their spot by winning the first-half Florida State League South Division title, but have been hovering around the .500 mark in the second half.
Along with the number of games, the Miracle are adjusting to some roster changes and fighting complacency after their first-half success.
“You have to redefine your goals and make it a day-to-day thing,” said Miracle outfielder Mark Dolenc. “It does get long just like any other job and for us this is a job. You have to say this is what I want to accomplish today.”
The Miracle outlasted the Jays Tuesday in a game that went back-and-forth in the late innings.
The Miracle took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Nicholas Romero drew a bases loaded walk, Fernandez had a sacrifice fly, and De San Miguel added an RBI.
Miracle left-hander Michael Tarsi held the Jays scoreless through the first four innings, but the Jays continued to swing the bats. They sprayed 12 hits.
After the Jays tied it 3-3 in the top of the fifth, Parmelee put the Miracle back in front with a solo homer to right in the bottom of the fifth. He leads the FSL with 14 home runs.
The Jays fought back again, though, with three runs in the eighth to force the Miracle to rally in the ninth.
Parmelee came to the plate with two on and two out and the Miracle down one. He fouled a pitch down the left field line that dropped between three Blue Jays fielders.
He took advantage of the second chance with an RBI single that scored Chris Cates.
Bigley lined a single to left and pumped his fist running around first base, as the winning run came home.
The Miracle concluded their four-game homestand and begin a four-game series at Tampa Wednesday.
Dunedin 000 030 030 – 6 12 4
Fort Myers 030 010 003 – 7 8 0
W – Arias. L – Garcia.
2B – Ahrens (D), Gonzalez (D), Barron 2 (D), Bigley (F), N.Romero (F). HR – Parmelee (F).