L-Tigers Survive Thriller

By DAVID YATES
Lakeland Ledger

LAKELAND -- The 2006 Lakeland Tigers have picked up where their predecessors left off, at least as far as the Fort Myers Miracle are concerned.

Lakeland, 13-5 against Fort Myers a year ago, found a way to beat the Miracle on Thursday, rallying for a tense 3-2 win that was in doubt until the last pitch.

With a Marchant Stadium crowd of 336 hanging on to the edge of its seats, Tiger closer Kevin Whelan induced Jeremy Pickerel to fly to left with the bases loaded in the ninth as Lakeland (7-7) won two games in a row for the first time this year.

The West Division-leading Miracle, an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, fell to 9-5.

On the verge of being shut out for only the second time in the last 173 games, Lakeland tallied three times in the eighth without benefit of a hit.

Tiger shortstop Brent Dlugach reached on an error and advanced to second on a ground out. Chris Robinson and Clete Thomas walked, bringing Julio DePaula out of the Miracle bullpen.

Gilberto Mejia bounced a grounder to first but Brock Peterson's throw home sailed wide of the plate and Dlugach and pinch runner James Essian scored, Essian avoiding a frantic effort to tag him with a brilliant slide.

Lakeland RBI leader Jeff Frazier then plated his 11th run with a sacrifice fly.

Lakeland will send Josh Rainwater (0-1, 1.64) to the Marchant Stadium mound tonight at 7. The Louisiana right-hander is expected to be opposed by Fort Myers southpaw J. T. Thomas (1-0, 0.93).