Miracle fall for 69th time this season, 7-6 to Tigers

LAKELAND — The Fort Myers Miracle lost for the 69th time this season Monday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. They blew a 6-0 lead and lost 7-6 to the Lakeland Tigers.

The Tigers scored the winning run in the ninth when lead off batter Gilberto Mejia hit a routine grounder to second baseman Jesus Merchan. Merchan came up on the ball and it went through his legs and Mejia went all the way to second. The next batter, Victor Mendez, laid down a bunt to sacrifice Mejia over. Miracle pitcher Pat Neshek picked up the ball and tried to throw Mejia out at third, but instead threw the ball away and that allowed Mejia to score the winning run.

The Miracle built a 6-0 lead after an inning and a half. In the first, Danny Matienzo blasted a solo homer to left — his fifth of the season. The Miracle put up five runs in the second on an RBI single from Ron Perodin, a two-run single by Felix Molina and sacrifice flies from Alex Romero and Matienzo.

The Miracle couldn’t hold the advantage as starter Nick Blackburn was roughed up for five runs in 2.2 innings. With the score 6-1 in the bottom of the third, the Tigers scored four runs on a solo homer from Mejia, a two run shot from Brent Clevlen and an RBI single by Chris Maples.

In the eighth, Neshek came into the ballgame. He gave up the tying solo homer to Moore with one out in the eighth.

The Miracle will travel to Lakeland tonight at 7 p.m.