Miracle lose 4th straight

By Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

A ninth-inning comeback by the Fort Myers Miracle came up short for the third straight game as the Sarasota Reds held on to beat the Miracle 4-3 Monday night at Hammond Stadium.

The loss is the fourth in a row for the Miracle to open the Florida State League season. They head out on the road for a three-day, three-game visit to Lakeland starting Tuesday night.

Sarasota struck first as Danny Dorn traded places with Mike Griffin at second base on an RBI double. Errors plagued the Miracle again, committing two of four in a two-run third inning as the Reds opened a 3-0 lead.

Griffin reached on a throwing error by Toby Gardenhire and later scored on Jay Bruce’s RBI triple to right. On the same play, Bruce scored from third when Matt Betsill’s throw found the Miracle dugout.

The Miracle tallied two in the third with back-to-back one-out singles by Gardenhire and Steve Tolleson. Juan Portes and Whit Robbins delivered back-to-back RBI singles moments later.

The Miracle drew four walks in five at-bats off of Reds closer Jose Roenicke in the ninth. Dwayne White picked up an RBI on his free pass. With the bases loaded and the winning runs in scoring position, Portes struck out on three straight strikes.