Red Sox sprint out to early advantage, top Miracle 8-5

SARASOTA — It was too much too early, and the Fort Myers Miracle could never recover, losing their Florida State League game to the Sarasota Red Sox 8-5 at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Red Sox scored eight runs over the first two innings, led by first baseman Jeremy West. In the first inning, West clubbed a three-run homer and Chris Durbin added an RBI single to make it 4-0.

The Miracle answered with three runs in the second. With runners at the corners and one out, Ben Pattee singled to left to drive in a run. After a sacrifice fly by Kaulana Kuhaulua made it 4-2, Felix Molina got the Miracle a run closer with an RBI double. Molina went 3-for-4, with two doubles and an RBI.

Sarasota, however, continued to rough up Nick Blackburn in the second, putting up four more runs. After a walk with the bases loaded forced in a run, West came calling again. He nearly missed a grand slam, hitting the wall in left and driving in a pair of runs. He finished the night 2-for-4, with a double, homer, five RBI and a run scored.

The Miracle got two more runs in the fourth on a fielder’s choice ground out by Pattee and an RBI double by Kuhaulua, but never got any closer. They sent the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Danny Matienzo struck out and Garrett Guzman grounded out.

Fort Myers’ bullpen was spectacular, as Manny Tejada and Josh Gray worked the final six innings, allowing three hits while walking one and striking out four.

The Miracle now head home to take on the Tampa Yankees tonight. The first game will be a contest resumed from Aug. 4. The game is in the top of the fifth with the Yankees leading 2-1. There are two outs and Manny Mejia is batting for the Yankees. The game is scheduled for seven innings and will begin at 5:05 p.m. The regularly scheduled contest will follow and also be a seven-inning contest.

The Miracle will start left-hander Jeff Randazzo (5-10, 4.39 ERA).