Miracle lose lead, contest to Tigers

Fort Myers falls 2 1/2 games back in division race

By Special to The News-Press

For the third time in four games, the Fort Myers Miracle gave up a late lead Sunday in a 4-2, Florida State League loss to the Lakeland Tigers at the Lee County Sports Complex.

The loss dropped Fort Myers 2 1/2 games behind Dunedin for the lead in the FSL West Division.

The Miracle carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning Sunday.

Jay Sawatski started the inning by walking Gilberto Mejia. Sawatski then got back-to-back strikeouts, but, for the second time in the series, Lakeland manager Mike Rojas went to his bench for one of his home run hitters.

Derek Nicholson hit a two-run, pinch-hit homer over the right-field wall, his 15th of the season, to put the Tigers on top 3-2.

Lakeland got an insurance run in the ninth against Julio DePaula on an RBI single by Kody Kirkland.

Down 1-0 early, Fort Myers tied it in the third inning. Allen de San Miguel singled and Hughes doubled to put runners on the corners. Jake Mauer's ground out brought the run home.

The Miracle took the lead in the fifth. With two outs and runners at first and second, Mauer singled inside the first-base line to drove home Hughes and give the Miracle a 2-1 lead.

Hughes finished the day 3-for-4, with a double and a run scored. Mauer drove in both Miracle runs.

Fort Myers starter Jay Rainville went five innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking one and striking out four.

The Miracle will now head to Clearwater for a three-game series against the Threshers at Bright House Networks Field.

In the series-opener at 7:05 tonight, left-hander Justin Jones (5-2, 3.63 ERA) will get the start for Fort Myers.