Miracle climb above .500 with victory over Jupiter

The Fort Myers Miracle will be sad to see July come to an end.

The Miracle finished the month 17-11 after toppling the Jupiter Hammerheads 2-1 on Saturday night at Hammond Stadium.

It was the first winning month in 2004 for the Miracle. Fort Myers (19-18) is over .500 for the first time in the second half of the Florida State League season since the team was 1-0.

The Miracle received another solid pitching performance from Nick Blackburn. Since being called up from Quad Cities on July 21, Blackburn has allowed just one earned run in 14.1 innings. On Saturday night, he allowed one run on four hits while striking out four over six innings.

The Miracle scored first in the third inning. Felix Molina led off by striking out, but the ball glanced off catcher Tony Arnerich’s glove and went to the screen, allowing Molina to reach base. Ron Perodin’s single moved Molina to second, and Danny Matienzo drove in Molina with a single to right.

After the Hammerheads tied the game 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Miracle answered in the bottom half of the inning.

After Garrett Guzman drew a one-out walk, Jose Morales and Brett Tamburrino each singled to load the bases. Kaulana Kuhaulua’s grounder to short wasn’t hit sharply enough for the Hammerheads to turn the double play, and that allowed Guzman to score the deciding run.

Jannio Gutierrez picked up his third save of the season for the Miracle, who are now alone in third place just 2 1/2 games behind Dunedin and Tampa.

The same two teams play today at 1:05 p.m. The Miracle will send left-hander Jeff Randazzo (5-9, 4.33 ERA) to the hill against Hammerheads left-hander Scott Olsen (4-6, 3.72).