TAMPA – The Tampa Yankees (2-3) fell behind early and couldn’t catch Fort Myers (3-2) as the Miracle ran away with a win in the series opener, 11-4.
RHPs Jhon Morban (0-1) and Matt Wotherspoon join Tampa from Extended Spring Training to appear in the game.
Morban got the start and surrendered five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks in two and a third innings pitched.
Fort Myers brought eight batters to the plate in the first inning, coming a way with an early 3-0 lead. The Miracle tacked on two more runs in the second.
Miracle starter Ryan Eades scattered five hits through six shutout innings, striking out three while issuing two walks in the win.
Wotherspoon took over with one out in the third and restored order. However, Fort Myers added runs in the fourth and sixth to increase the lead to 7-0. Wotherspoon allowed two runs on three hits in two and two-third innings, walking one while striking out a pair.
RHP Philip Walby took the ball in the sixth inning for Tampa and found trouble in the seventh. The Miracle sent all nine batters to the plate as Walby allowed four runs on five hits and a walk.
The Yankees rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to avoid a shutout. Matt Snyder and Isaias Tejeda hit back-to-back singles off RHP J.T. Chargois. Snyder later scored on a single by Angelo Gumbs and Ericson Leonora followed with an RBI double. Both would score on a wild pitch and a single by Mark Payton. RHP Madison Boer entered for the Miracle and ended the Tampa comeback threat.
Snyder went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Danny Oh reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored. Payton hit his second double of the season, going 2-for-5.
Up next, the series continues on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. as part of School Day at GMS. LHP Luke Westphal (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the stat for Fort Myers. The starter for Tampa is TBA.
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