Danny Rams capped off a five-run first inning with a grand slam to drive the Fort Myers Miracle past the Bradenton Marauders 5-3 Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium.
The grand slam is Rams' first home run of the season and the third extra-base hit of the season in two games. He belted two doubles against Palm Beach on Monday.
The five runs were enough for starter Cole Nelson and the Miracle bullpen. The Marauders scored three runs in the fourth to cut the margin to 5-3, but Nelson (3-0) settled down to get out of the inning and Jose Gonzalez and Dakota Watts pitched four scoreless innings of relief.
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MICHAEL PISTELLA
Fort Myers Miracle pitcher Cole Nelson makes a pitch in the third inning Tuesday night against the Bradenton Marauders at Hammond Stadium.
Levi Michael started the first-inning rally with a double. He quickly scored on a line drive single to right by Jairo Perez.
Oswaldo Arcia reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Josmil Pinto's single. Anderson Hidalgo was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Rams, who drove a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for the 5-0 lead.
Gonzalez pitched the sixth and seventh, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. Watts collected his first save by giving up just one hit over the final two innings.
The Miracle (26-36) have won three games in a row and four of their last five. They host the Marauders (26-39) again at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.
