JUPITER - Jupiter All-Star Marcell Ozuna delivered a knockout blow to the Fort Myers Miracle with a three-run double in the fifth inning to help the Hammerheads win, 6-2, at Roger Dean Stadium on Tuesday evening.
After retiring six in a row, including five consecutive strikeouts, Miracle reliever Jose Gonzalez allowed back-to-back-to-back singles to Isaac Galloway, Danny Black and J.T. Realmuto to load the bases in the fifth inning. Gonzalez rallied to strikeout Christian Yelich and retire Mark Canha on a foul ball fly out, but Marcell Ozuna would not yield in a lengthy at-bat.
Gonzalez jumped ahead in the count 0-2, but Ozuna worked the count even and fouled off multiple close pitches. Finally winning the battle with a two-out, bases clearing double down the right field line, Ozuna improved Jupiter's lead to 6-1.
Fort Myers went down early, 3-0, when Tom Stuifbergen and the defense struggled in the first inning. Stuifbergen (0-2) made his first start of the season, allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits and two errors.
Danny Rams put the Miracle on the board in the with a solo homerun over the left field wall to lead off the second inning. Fort Myers added another run in the sixth on a bases loaded walk drawn by Levi Michael, but the Miracle offense struggled through the night despite plenty of base runners.
Fort Myers had at least one base runner in seven innings and stranded a season-high 13 runners.
Jupiter starter Chad James went four innings with one run given up on six hits. Michael Ojala (2-2) was awarded the win with a scoreless inning.
The Miracle (27-39) look to avoid the sweep on Wednesday night in the series and first half finale at Roger Dean Stadium against Jupiter (36-33). First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. and the State Farm pregame show with Brice Zimmerman will hit the air at 6:20 p.m. on www.miraclebaseball.com.
