Miracle drop road doubleheader

TAMPA — A grueling schedule of seven games in four days finally came to an end for the Fort Myers Miracle on Saturday night at Tampa Legends Field.

The Miracle came out on the losing end of both games of the Florida State League doubleheader to the Tampa Yankees, 2-1 and 3-1.

In the opener John Thomas pitched a gem of a ballgame but didn't get any run support or breaks.

With the Miracle leading 1-0 in the fifth and Jared Koutnik at second, Rudy Guillen hit a chopper to third. The ball hit the corner of the third-base bag and caromed away from third baseman Ben Pattee into left field to score Koutnik.

In the sixth, Erik Verbryke walked and was sacrificed to second. With two outs, Bishop Verot High School graduate Tommy Winrow's single scored Verbryke.

Thomas hurled a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out six, but earned his fifth straight loss.

Fort Myers got on the board first in the second game when Kaulana Kuhaulua doubled home Doug Deeds in the second. The lead didn't last long. Back-to-back, two-out RBI singles by Manuel Mejia and Jayson Drobiak in the bottom of the second gave the Yankees a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Miracle starter Ricky Barrett went four innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out a season-high nine.

The Miracle now take today off before going to Lakeland for a 7:05 p.m. game Monday.