Miracle outlast troublesome Dodgers

Special to the Daily Breeze

Three-hour games are becoming the norm for the Fort Myers Miracle lately, but with just 3 1/2 weeks left in the Florida State League season the Miracle don’t care how long the games are as long as they come away with the win.

The Miracle won the battle of attrition Thursday night for a 4-2 victory over the Vero Beach Dodgers at Hammond Stadium.

They needed 3 hours, 25 minutes to finish off the Dodgers Wednesday and took 3 hours, 16 minutes Thursday. Things got tense in the ninth inning.

With an already tired bullpen, Tim Lahey came out of the bullpen to pitch the ninth nursing a 4-2 lead. He gave up three straight singles to load the bases. He struck out Adolfo Gonzalez, then had to face clean-up hitter Cory Dunlap. Lahey got Dunlap to ground into a game-ending double play that earned Lahey his ninth save of the season and second in two straight nights.

The Miracle (25-20) took the lead in the first inning when Brandon Roberts walked and stole second. Trevor Plouffe singled before Brock Peterson followed with a three-run homer over the right field wall.

Miracle starter Kyle Aselton, who threw five no-hit innings in his previous start, was nearly as sharp. He went 5 2/3 innings allowing two unearned runs on three hits while walking four and striking out a season-high eight.

The Miracle now welcome the Sarasota Reds to Hammond Stadium for a two-game series starting Friday night. The Miracle send Anthony Swarzak (7-6, 3.63) to the hill against the Reds’ Justin Mallett (1-1, 3.92).