fmmiraclegal
04-19-2004, 04:06 AM
The Fort Myers Miracle took their first home game win today, defeating the Clearwater Threshers in front of 2,125 avid fans at Hammond Stadium. It was a beautiful day for baseball in the City of Palms as the fans enjoyed the pleasant 80-degree weather through a nail biting afternoon game.
Jeff Randazzo, who had not done well in his previous starts, pitched a strong five innings of baseball, He allowed two hits, issued three walks, and struck out four in his first five innings.
Meanwhile, the Miracle got off to a 2-0 lead when Trent Oeltjen singled at the top of the fourth and was advanced to second on a textbook classic bunt by Ron Perodin. Catcher Jose Morales, who was serving as the designated hitter today, homered out to right field, driving in Oeltjen.
The Miracle must have felt confident as they returned Randazzo, who had not reached his pitch count, to the mound in the sixth. At the top of the order, Randazzo walked Thresher Chris Roberson. He was advanced on a beautiful bunt by Carlos Leon. Randazzo then hit Nick Tempestra with a ball, which put him on first. Ryan Barthelemy then hit a double down the right field line that advanced Tempestra to third and scored Roberson, make the game 2-1. For reasons unknown, Mike Floyd was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Randazzo surrendered a double to Mike Vukovich, which drove in Berthelemy and Tempestra, and the game was suddenly 2-3. Edgar Cruz singled past Miracle third baseman Omar Burgos, and Floyd scored, making the game 2-4. Chris Crosby would reach on a fielder’s choice to second, while Vukovich scored, giving the Threshers a 5-2 lead.
Travis Bowyer would FINALLY be inserted into the game, allowing a fly to Jack Santora, which would end up fouling out to end the inning.
The Miracle came back though in the bottom of the sixth, when Felix Molina doubled down the left field to open the inning. Oeltjen’s fly out allowed Molina to advance to third. Ron Perodin singled down the middle to drive him in, making the score 5-3. Morales singled to right field to keep the rally alive, but Doug Deeds would ground out into a double play.
Bowyer would handle the pitchers he faced over the next two innings, allowing one run, one walk and striking out two, to pick up this first win of the season. Bowyer continues with a 0.00 ERA in 2004.
In the bottom of the seventh, catch Kyle Geiger was walked onto first. Jesus Merchan’s single advanced him to second. Burgos would drive in Geiger, but it would be Merchan at third who made the play. With Marchan sliding into base, he drove his foot into Tempesta’s glove causing the ball to pop out and Geiger to get home safe. A great play and some very smart baseball by Marchan. Tempestra wasn’t happy about it, but Miracle Field Manager Jose Marzan was quick to point out the ball on the ground to ump and the play stood. The score was now 5-4 in favor of the Threshers, but the Miracle weren’t done.
At the bottom of the eighth, Perodin singled through to the left side. Morales would fly out, but Perodin stole to second. Deeds was hit by a pitch. Garrett Jones then flew out to center. While it did not advance Deed, Perodin went to third. Finally, Geiger doubled on a line drive out to the right field, and Perodin came in with Deeds screaming in from first, hot on his heels to slide into home and make the play count. This put the Miracle up, 6-5.
Justin Olson would be called in to close out the game, earning his second save of the season, with no runs, no hits and one strike out in the ninth.
Notes: While we continue to have infield problems, on the whole they played a pretty good game. The most notable mistake was made Perodin, who turned the wrong way in outfield in the sixth, missing a ball that should have been a fly out. It was a rookie move and cost the Miracle, but as Marzan said in today’s New Press, “Managing at this level, you never stop teaching.”
Even though Randazzo had not reached his pitch count, he should have been pulled after the fifth. It was evident that he was getting tired, even though he did strike out two in that inning, and looked statistically, pretty much in command of the game. The first five innings were a nice outing by Randazzo, the sixth should not have happened, IMHO.
We’ve got some really good talent in the outfield with Deeds, Oltjen and Perodin. The infield still needs some work but there are flashes of brilliance here and there. Sometimes the problem is the pitching staff, but guys like Lohse, Bowyer, Olson and Cameron have been pitched well out of the bullpen. Yes, even Miller, while he has him moments, has not been as bad as we’ve seen in the past.
I think on the whole the team is workable. If Mike Sandoval starts to show some of Maza’s hustle from last season, he’d be a solid third baseman. Morales has been reaching with his bat and just need to work a bit on his defensive game – specifically, that throw to second. Marchan needs to settle down and not show boat – he once again made a sloppy throw to first which Jones, in trying to reach it, took his foot off the bag allowing a runner to be called safe.
As long as the pitching order doesn’t fall apart, it should be, if not a record-breaking season, but a least an enjoyable one.
Mascot: I’m not ragging on the mascot. I could go on for a while but it’s pointless. She’s here to stay. However, Aaron has been doing some extensive research into her breeding and discovered that she is NOT a golden retriever. She is in fact, a Pom-Pomaranian. Good. At least the Jerricho breeding line is safe and his not been infected by this outsider.
Jeff Randazzo, who had not done well in his previous starts, pitched a strong five innings of baseball, He allowed two hits, issued three walks, and struck out four in his first five innings.
Meanwhile, the Miracle got off to a 2-0 lead when Trent Oeltjen singled at the top of the fourth and was advanced to second on a textbook classic bunt by Ron Perodin. Catcher Jose Morales, who was serving as the designated hitter today, homered out to right field, driving in Oeltjen.
The Miracle must have felt confident as they returned Randazzo, who had not reached his pitch count, to the mound in the sixth. At the top of the order, Randazzo walked Thresher Chris Roberson. He was advanced on a beautiful bunt by Carlos Leon. Randazzo then hit Nick Tempestra with a ball, which put him on first. Ryan Barthelemy then hit a double down the right field line that advanced Tempestra to third and scored Roberson, make the game 2-1. For reasons unknown, Mike Floyd was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Randazzo surrendered a double to Mike Vukovich, which drove in Berthelemy and Tempestra, and the game was suddenly 2-3. Edgar Cruz singled past Miracle third baseman Omar Burgos, and Floyd scored, making the game 2-4. Chris Crosby would reach on a fielder’s choice to second, while Vukovich scored, giving the Threshers a 5-2 lead.
Travis Bowyer would FINALLY be inserted into the game, allowing a fly to Jack Santora, which would end up fouling out to end the inning.
The Miracle came back though in the bottom of the sixth, when Felix Molina doubled down the left field to open the inning. Oeltjen’s fly out allowed Molina to advance to third. Ron Perodin singled down the middle to drive him in, making the score 5-3. Morales singled to right field to keep the rally alive, but Doug Deeds would ground out into a double play.
Bowyer would handle the pitchers he faced over the next two innings, allowing one run, one walk and striking out two, to pick up this first win of the season. Bowyer continues with a 0.00 ERA in 2004.
In the bottom of the seventh, catch Kyle Geiger was walked onto first. Jesus Merchan’s single advanced him to second. Burgos would drive in Geiger, but it would be Merchan at third who made the play. With Marchan sliding into base, he drove his foot into Tempesta’s glove causing the ball to pop out and Geiger to get home safe. A great play and some very smart baseball by Marchan. Tempestra wasn’t happy about it, but Miracle Field Manager Jose Marzan was quick to point out the ball on the ground to ump and the play stood. The score was now 5-4 in favor of the Threshers, but the Miracle weren’t done.
At the bottom of the eighth, Perodin singled through to the left side. Morales would fly out, but Perodin stole to second. Deeds was hit by a pitch. Garrett Jones then flew out to center. While it did not advance Deed, Perodin went to third. Finally, Geiger doubled on a line drive out to the right field, and Perodin came in with Deeds screaming in from first, hot on his heels to slide into home and make the play count. This put the Miracle up, 6-5.
Justin Olson would be called in to close out the game, earning his second save of the season, with no runs, no hits and one strike out in the ninth.
Notes: While we continue to have infield problems, on the whole they played a pretty good game. The most notable mistake was made Perodin, who turned the wrong way in outfield in the sixth, missing a ball that should have been a fly out. It was a rookie move and cost the Miracle, but as Marzan said in today’s New Press, “Managing at this level, you never stop teaching.”
Even though Randazzo had not reached his pitch count, he should have been pulled after the fifth. It was evident that he was getting tired, even though he did strike out two in that inning, and looked statistically, pretty much in command of the game. The first five innings were a nice outing by Randazzo, the sixth should not have happened, IMHO.
We’ve got some really good talent in the outfield with Deeds, Oltjen and Perodin. The infield still needs some work but there are flashes of brilliance here and there. Sometimes the problem is the pitching staff, but guys like Lohse, Bowyer, Olson and Cameron have been pitched well out of the bullpen. Yes, even Miller, while he has him moments, has not been as bad as we’ve seen in the past.
I think on the whole the team is workable. If Mike Sandoval starts to show some of Maza’s hustle from last season, he’d be a solid third baseman. Morales has been reaching with his bat and just need to work a bit on his defensive game – specifically, that throw to second. Marchan needs to settle down and not show boat – he once again made a sloppy throw to first which Jones, in trying to reach it, took his foot off the bag allowing a runner to be called safe.
As long as the pitching order doesn’t fall apart, it should be, if not a record-breaking season, but a least an enjoyable one.
Mascot: I’m not ragging on the mascot. I could go on for a while but it’s pointless. She’s here to stay. However, Aaron has been doing some extensive research into her breeding and discovered that she is NOT a golden retriever. She is in fact, a Pom-Pomaranian. Good. At least the Jerricho breeding line is safe and his not been infected by this outsider.