Ft. Myers Sweeps Lucy

The Fort Myers Miracle took both games of a doubleheader against the St. Lucie Mets on Sunday afternoon to complete a series sweep at Hammond Stadium. The Miracle won game one, 5-1, and game two, 8-2.

In game one, J.D. Williams knocked in four of the five runs scored by the Miracle and tallied his first home run in the Florida State League.

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Levi Michael coaxed a one-out walk from Mets starter Rainy Lara. Then, A.J. Pettersen was struck with a pitch. On a 1-2 pitch from Lara, Williams cleared the bases and broke the tie with a three-run shot that skipped off the top of the wall in right field and over.

Leading 4-1, the Miracle added another run in the fifth. Byron Buxton hit his eighth triple into right center field. Dalton Hicks then brought Buxton home with a single into right field and extended the lead to four runs.

The Mets scored first in the third inning when Kevin Plawecki hit into a bases loaded fielder's choice to force in a run. Williams answered for the Miracle with a RBI double in the bottom of the third, his second double of the night. Williams finished 3-for-4 with eight total bases and four RBI.

Miracle starter Taylor Rogers pitched six strong innings and scattered four hits while allowing just one unearned run. Rogers (11-6) walked four and struck out three while lowering is earned run average to 2.63.

Tyler Jones recorded the final three outs with a perfect seventh in a non-save situation.

Lara (4-5) went five innings and gave up five runs on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

In game two, Jayce Boyd handed the Mets an early 1-0 lead off Miracle starter David Hurlbut in the first inning. With two outs and a runner at third, Boyd engaged in a lengthy at-bat and eventually singled into right to bring in the first run.

Fort Myers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the second. After a lead-off walk of Kennys Vargas by Mets starter Octavio Acosta, Jairo Rodriguez tapped to the pitcher and advanced Vargas to second. Then, Mike Kvasnicka sliced a double down the third base line to bring in Vargas and tie the game, 1-1.

Acosta then issued back-to-back walks to Williams and Michael to load the bases. Pettersen then lifted a fly ball into center field to score Kvasnicka from third for a sacrifice fly and the Miracle took a 2-1 advantage.

In the third, the Miracle picked up a RBI from Hicks. Buxton reached on a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Then, Hicks hit a rocket that struck Acosta in the gut and rolled into foul ground. The ball was too far from Acosta or Mets catcher Cam Maron to prevent Buxton from coming around to score.

The Miracle plated four runs, all with two outs, in the sixth to blow the game open. Vargas earned a RBI on a bases loaded walk. Jairo Rodriguez plated two with a single.

Hurlbut (1-0) went six innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with three wlaks and four strikeouts.

Acosta (0-1) lasted just three innings with three runs scoring on three hits and five walks.

Wickens finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a RBI.

Press Release