Winning streak over for Miracle

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

LAKELAND — The battle of the two best teams in the Florida State League came down to a couple of minor mistakes. When it was over, the Fort Myers Miracle had their four-game win streak snapped, losing 5-2 to the Lakeland Tigers on Thursday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Miracle couldn't get the big hits when they needed them.

In the sixth inning, trailing 3-1, J.R. Taylor led off with a single to center. Matt Tolbert singled Taylor to third. Matt Moses fouled out, Brock Peterson struck out and Felix Molina grounded out to end the inning.

In the seventh, Scott Whitrock led off with a bunt single and moved to second on a wild pitch, but Trent Oeltjen struck out and Kyle Geiger flew out to deep center. Ron Perodin then singled to shallow left and Whitrock tried to score from second, but was gunned out at the plate.

The Miracle jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the third when Oeltjen led off the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Perodin.

The Tigers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning on three hits from the bottom three guys in the order, the last a two-run triple from Scott Tousa. Juan Francia grounded out to score the third run of the inning.

The Tigers added to their lead on a two-run homer from Brent Clevlen, in the seventh inning. Fort Myers got one back in the eighth on back-to-back doubles by Tolbert and Moses.

Miracle starter Nick Blackburn went six innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five. Lakeland's Jordan Tata went seven innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out four.