The Fort Myers Miracle showed their heart on Tuesday
night in game one of the Western Division playoffs,
but a controversial call turned out to be the
difference in a 3-2 Dunedin Blue Jay victory as they
took a 1-0 lead in the series.

In the bottom of the ninth with the game tied at two,
Maikel Jova singled to center field. Mike Snyder
reached on a dribbler towards third. Rob Cosby then
grounded a ball to Luis Maza who forced Snyder at
second. Up stepped Raul Tablado. He hit a ball about
10 feet out in front of home plate that pitcher Justin
Olson charged, fielded and slid towards the plate and
appeared to lay the tag on Jova, but the umpire saw it
otherwise and called him safe and the Miracle dropped
game one.

The Miracle trailed 2-0 heading into the eighth inning
and after an hour and a half rain delay that forced
Blue Jay starter Jesse Harper out of the game, the
Miracle got to the Blue Jay bullpen. With two outs in
the eighth, Luis Maza doubled to left. Jason Kubel
then grounded a ball through the right side to drive
in Maza.

In the ninth, the Miracle tied it off of Blue Jay
closer Ryan Houston. Stephen Tope doubled to lead off
the inning. Garrett Jones was then asked to sacrifice
Tope over, but he popped it up to the catcher. After
Kyle Phillips walked, Tommy Watkins singled to right
center to drive in Tope. Jake Mauer then lined a shot
right at shortstop Aaron Hill, who caught it and
underhanded to second to double off Phillips.

Colby Miller pitched well for the Miracle. He went six
innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while walking
one and striking out four, but he was upstaged by
Jesse Harper. He went seven shutout innings, allowing
three hits while walking two and striking out six. The
rain delay forced him out of the game.

(S. Aronson - Fort Myers Miracle)

Boxscore
http://www.geocities.com/fmmiraclegal/boxscores/090203box.html

Dunedin wins opener against Miracle, 3-2
http://www.naplesnews.com/03/09/sports/d984170a.htm

Miracle drop opener 3-2
Fort Myers one game away from elimination in playoffs
http://vh40039.vh4.infi.net/news/sports/0309003miracle.html

Game two of the series is tonight at Hammond Stadium.
The Miracle will start LHP Eric Milton (0-0, 0.00)
against Blue Jay RHP Vince Perkins (7-6, 2.45). The
game can be heard on Sports Radio 770 ESPN.



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