Jays rally to victory against Miracle

One pitch proved to be the difference Saturday night in the Fort Myers Miracle’s 4-1, Florida State League loss to the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Fort Myers starter Nick Blackburn was solid for the first six innings, despite living on the edge. He allowed a runner in scoring position in every inning but the first, and it finally caught up to him in the seventh.

With two on and two out, Ron Davenport blasted a three-run homer over the right-center field wall to give the Blue Jays the lead.

Blackburn went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, while walking one and striking out four. He three 111 pitches, 72 of them for strikes.

Fort Myers couldn’t mount much of an offense against one of the FSL’s top pitchers, Ismael Ramirez. Ramirez, who had won nine of his last 10 decisions, went six innings, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out six.

The Miracle got their only run against Ramirez in the second. Doug Deeds extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single. Elvis Corporan then bounced one into right field that sent Deeds to third. Ben Pattee’s grounder scored Deeds to give the Miracle the 1-0 lead.

Idle today, the Miracle face the Lakeland Tigers at home Monday for a 5:05 p.m. doubleheader.

Monday’s first game, continued from a rainout last week in Lakeland, will start with Fort Myers down 5-0 in the second inning.