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Bullpen collapse costs Miracle, 7-6

By Staff | Jun 28, 2010

BRADENTON – Leading 5-0, the Fort Myers Miracle bullpen gave up five runs on five hits in the eighth inning to blow the lead. Nate Hanson’s solo home run in the top of the ninth put the Miracle up 6-5, but the Marauders scored two in the bottom of the ninth to win 7-6 Sunday afternoon.

Steve Blevins, who pitched 1 2/3 innings Saturday night, gave up the final two runs of the eighth and two in the ninth for the loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak by the Miracle.

The bullpen collapse spoiled a win for Miracle starter Dan Osterbrock, who got a no-decision. He tossed six shutout innings against the Marauders, sending the first nine down in order. He allowed just two hits and one walk, and struck out a season-high of eight.

After stranding five runners in the first three innings, the Miracle (3-1) broke through against Bradenton starter Chris Jakubauskas for their first run in the fourth. Evan Bigley hit a one-out double, and Dan Rohlfing brought him home with two-out RBI single.

Jakubauskas, a Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander, made a rehab start with the Marauders. He retired the first batter of the fifth inning before walking the final two hitters he faced. Tom Boleska entered in relief, and threw a wild pitch to advance both runners up one base. Deibinson Romero cracked a base hit to left to put the Miracle up 2-0. Nick Romero followed with a sac-fly to center to give the Miracle a three-run lead. Both runs were charged to Jakabauskas, who took the loss. In 4 1/3 innings, the 31-year-old allowed three earned runs on seven hits.

With the Miracle up 3-0, the scheduled Bradenton starter Nathan Adcock entered in the sixth inning and gave up two more runs on an RBI double to Jhonathan Goncalves and an RBI single from Estarlin De Los Santos. Adcock was pushed back as a reliever due to the necessity for Jakubauskas to make the rehab start.

The Miracle and Marauders play again Monday with first pitch set for 7 p.m.