Miracle split doubleheader

The Fort Myers Miracle were nearly no-hit in the opener, then won a slugfest in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Tampa Yankees at Legends Field in Tampa in Class A Florida State League baseball Thursday night.

In the opener, Yankees starter Eric Abreu fell two outs short of a no-hitter. Doug Deeds' double with one out in the seventh inning ended the bid. The Yankees won, 4-0.

The shutout tied a Miracle franchise record for shutouts in a season with 13. The 2004 group tied last season's club who also had 13.

In the nightcap, the Miracle blew a 3-0 lead when the Yankees erupted for six runs in the third. Fort Myers came back with five runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to take an 11-6 lead. The teams traded scoring outbursts, with Tampa scoring three times in the seventh before Pat Neshek got a strikeout to end it.

Deeds hit a two-run homer, a single and a double and drove in four runs. Jesus Merchan went 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.

Tonight's game against the Dunedin Blue Jays at Hammond Stadium will raise funds for the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Charley victims.