Miracle split with Lakeland

LAKELAND — The Fort Myers Miracle completed both ends of a doubleheader against the Lakeland Tigers on Wednesday night at Joker Marchant Stadium, winning game two 6-4 and losing game one 2-0.

In game two, the Miracle exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to put the game away. Garrett Guzman led off with a single, and Doug Deeds tripled him home. The triple was the 12th of the season for Deeds, setting a Miracle record. One out later, Ben Pattee knocked home Deeds with a single. With two outs, Felix Molina tripled home Pattee and Alex Romero followed with a two run blast.

The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning off Levale Speigner. It ended a streak of 28.1 innings of not allowing an earned run for Speigner. Pat Neshek closed out the game in the seventh to pick up his ninth save in as many opportunities.

Nick Blackburn pitched five innings, allowing just one run on five hits while walking two and striking out three to pick up his third victory of the season.

In the first game, one mistake cost the Miracle. With the game scoreless going into the sixth inning, Miracle reliever Josh Gray walked the leadoff man. Victor Mendez was then asked to bunt. After fouling the first bunt back, he showed bunt on the next pitch, but pulled back and swung away and hit a two-run homer over the left field wall.