Tigers edge Miracle on 8th-inning homer

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

LAKELAND — For the second night in a row the Fort Myers Miracle failed to come up with key hits, while the Lakeland Tigers got one big clout for a 2-1 Florida State League win at Joker Marchant Stadium on Friday night.

With the game tied at one in the eighth, Tiger catcher Danilo Sanchez hit a solo homer off reliever Josh Gray — his fifth of the season — just over the right-center field wall to give the Tigers the decisive run.

The Miracle had an opportunity in the ninth.

Trent Oeltjen led off the inning with a single to right. Pinch hitter Felix Molina reached on a fielder's choice. He moved to second on a wild pitch and Brock Peterson walked. Ron Perodin's grounder to second forced Peterson at second. Perodin then stole second, but with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position J.R. Taylor struck out to end it.

The Miracle left nine men on base and left runners in scoring position in the six of the nine innings.

The Miracle did strike first when Matt Tolbert singled to lead off the third. He stole second and scored on Matt Moses' RBI double.

Glen Perkins, the Minnesota Twins' 2004 first-round pick, made his first start of 2005. He went three shutout innings, allowing two hits while striking out four.

The series wraps up at 6 tonight in Lakeland. Fort Myers sends left-hander Errol Simonitsch (2-1, 3.00) against Tigers right-hander Eulogio De La Cruz (0-0, 2.25).