Matienzo learns to hit line drives

The first few weeks of the Florida State League season were an eye-opening experience for Danny Matienzo.

The Fort Myers Miracle first baseman clobbered balls he swore would be home runs, except none left the park. In the FSL, which is known as a pitcher’s league because of its large stadiums, Matienzo’s long fly balls were outs.

It was a rude introduction to the league for Matienzo, who prides himself on being a power hitter.

But Matienzo has adjusted. Focusing on hitting line drives and not home runs, Matienzo leads the team with a .299 average through Wednesday. He entered Thursday’s contest with a seven-game hitting streak.

Matienzo, who hit 15 homers last season for Class A Quad City, has one homer.

“He was having trouble in the beginning of the season so we told him to hit the ball in the middle of the field and hit for average,” Miracle manager Jose Marzan said. “That’s what he’s doing.”

Matienzo was named the Minnesota Twins’ minor league player of the week on Monday. Matienzo batted .471 with a homer and seven RBI in five games.

WATKINS SHINES

Watkins went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI.

Watkins was a fan favorite when he played for the Miracle in 2002 and 2003.

The club had a “Tommy Watkins Bobble-Butt” promotion last season.

“I was very excited to see him do well,” Marzan said. “Tommy is a good kid. He has a lot of value to this organization. Hopefully that was just one of his steps of making it to the major leagues.”

BAKER IMPRESSIVE

RHP Scott Baker, who began the season with Fort Myers, started the game and allowed three hits and two runs in five innings. The 6-foot-3 hurler also had eight strikeouts.

Baker, who currently is playing for New Britain, faced a lineup that included Braves starters Rafael Furcal, J.D. Drew, Chipper Jones and Julio Franco.

AROUND THE HORN

Each child who attends the game will get a free throw at the Miracle’s speed-pitch venue. Children will be throwing at a picture of Starr.

The Clearwater Threshers will host the 2005 FSL All-Star Game. The FSL approved Clearwater’s bid at last weekend’s All-Star Game in Port St. Lucie.

Clearwater is playing in a new stadium this year — Bright House Networks Field, a $32 million facility. The Threshers (formerly the Phillies) last hosted an FSL All-Star Game in 1988.

Due to a rash of late promotions, the FSL made 13 roster changes to the original 2004 All-Star selections.

Only two changes were made to last year’s All-Star Game in Fort Myers.

Tampa Yankees OF Tommy Winrow, a Bishop Verot High grad, was third in the FSL in hitting with a .333 average through Wednesday.

The Miracle remain last in the league in home runs with 17 through Wednesday. St. Lucie leads the FSL with 47.

OF Trent Oeltjen has been successful in his last 13 stolen-base attempts.

OF Alex Romero had a streak of seven consecutive games in which he scored a run snapped on Tuesday.

OF Doug Deeds has a league-leading eight triples through Wednesday. The single-season Miracle team record is nine, set by Michael Restovich.