Miracle improve playoff lot

By Special to the Daily Breeze

LAKELAND — With a chance to add some space between them and the Tampa Yankees, the Fort Myers Miracle defeated the Lakeland Tigers 6-2 at Joker Marchant Stadium. The win increased their lead in the Western Division to 1 1/2 games over the Yankees and reduced their magic number to win the division to seven games with eight games left. The Miracle just need to finish tied for the division with Tampa as they hold the head-to-head tie breaker beating them five games to four in the second half.

The Tigers have given the Miracle trouble all season long and they were looking for their first back-to-back victory in Lakeland since 2004. For the third consecutive game the Miracle got a long ball in the first inning. David Winfree blasted a solo shot over the left-center field wall, his 11th of the season, to give the Miracle a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers answered back in the second on a solo homer from Jim Essian, his third of the season, tying the game at one.

The Miracle regained the lead in the third when Brandon Roberts led off with a single to center. He stole second and took third on a throwing error by the catcher. Trevor Plouffe knocked him home with a single to right to put the Miracle up 2-1.

The Tigers were quick to answer again in the bottom of the inning. Miracle starter Kyle Aselton walked the first two hitters of the inning and then loaded the bases when he gave up an infield single to Juan Francia. After a strike out of Clete Thomas, Aselton got Jeff Frazier to hit into a fielder’s choice, which scored the tying run. After a walk loaded the bases again, Aselton got Brent Dlugach to ground out to end the inning. Aselton went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out five. He picked up his ninth win of the season.

The Miracle rattled off two in the fourth and took the lead for good. Deacon Burns led off with a double to right-center. Two batters later J.R. Taylor drove him home with a single to right-center. After Korey Feiner was hit by a pitch, the two runners moved up on a wild pitch. Jeremy Pickrel’s sac fly made it 4-2.

The Miracle got RBI singles from Luke Hughes and Feiner in the eighth to put the game away. Every Miracle player collected a hit in their 11 hit performance.

The Miracle bullpen of Ryan Callahan and Tim Lahey were solid. Callahan went 2.0 shutout innings allowing one hit while walking one and striking out two while Lahey tossed 2.0 perfect innings striking out five. The Miracle retired the final 11 Tiger hitters.

The Miracle now head to Clearwater for a three game series against the Threshers beginning tonight at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send right-hander Anthony Swarzak (10-6, 3.25 ERA) to the mound.