Miracle split pair against Lakeland

By Special to The News-Press

LAKELAND — The Fort Myers Miracle finally figured out how to beat the Lakeland Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Once. They couldn't do it twice Sunday, losing the nightcap of a Florida State League doubleheader 4-2 after winning the opener 3-1.

Down 1-0 in the first game, Fort Myers tied it in the fifth when Scott Whitrock hit a 2-0 fastball over the left-field wall, his 13th homer of the season.

In the seventh, the Miracle got two runs to take the lead. With Ron Perodin and Matt Tolbert aboard, Angelo Fermin singled home Perodin. Fermin took for second on a wild pitch, and a bad throw by catcher Russ Cleveland went into center field as Tolbert came home from third.

In the bottom of the seventh, Fort Myers' Chris Schutt retired the first two batters on strikeouts, but walked the next two. Jan Granado came out of the bullpen to face Derek Nicholson, who hit a grounder between first and second. Fermin made a diving play and threw out Nicholson at first to end the game.

Schutt got credit for the win. Granado earned his second save. Jose Leger's 12-game hitting streak ended, as he went 0-for-3.

With a chance to further narrow the gap behind Lakeland for first in the FSL West, Fort Myers took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap.

Brock Peterson's 10th home run of the season scored Trent Oeltjen in the first inning.

The Tigers got on the board in the second on a solo homer off the bat of Eric Rodland, his fifth home run. Lakeland then sent eight men to the plate in the fourth and scored three runs.

The split left Fort Myers still two games back in the FSL West.

The Miracle have today off before opening a home series Tuesday night against the Clearwater Threshers at the Lee County Sports Complex.