Miracle picks up first win at home

By Fort Myers News Press staff

The Fort Myers Miracle picked up their first home win of the season with a 7-6 decision over the visiting Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday night.

Erik Lis smashed a two-run home run to right, capping a three-run eighth that proved the difference.

The game did not end without some controversy.

Trailing by one in the top of the ninth, the Jays’ Juan Peralta and Jacob Butler reached base on back-to-back singles. Cory Patton followed with a ground ball to Juan Portes at second. Portes flipped to Steve Tolleson at second for one, with Tolleson’s relay throw to first getting past Lis and into the Blue Jays dugout.

Peralta, who had scored the tying run from second, was sent back to third as umpire Clint Fagan immediately rung up Patton at first as Butler’s slide into second interfered with Tolleson’s throw to first.

After a five-minute delay by Dunedin manager Omar Malave pleading his case to Fagan, Peralta’s tying run was taken off the board. Josh Kruezer grounded out to Tolleson at short, ending the game.

Trailing 3-0, the Miracle made their first of two comebacks with a four-run fifth inning. After a two-out walk to Portes loaded the bases, Whit Robbins delivered a bases-clearing triple to center. Robbins scores the go-ahead run on Lis’ infield single.

The Blue Jays scored three times in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. Robbins knocked in Tolleson to pull the Miracle within one in the eighth and Lis knocked a two-run homer for the win.

The same two teams will take the field at Hammond Stadium beginning at 7:05 tonight. It will be RHP Kyle Waldrop (0-0, 4.00) starting for the Miracle against the Jays’ RHP Russ Savickas (0-0, 5.06).