Lakeland Tigers Fall to Miracle, Drop From Pennant Race

By DAVID YATES
Ledger Correspondent

LAKELAND -- Fort Myers' 6-2 Florida State League win over Lakeland on Sunday night was a particularly sweet one for the Miracle.

Not only did Fort Myers eliminate the nemesis Tigers from the second-half West Division pennant race, but simultaneously took its own big step toward the playoffs.

Played before 156 at Joker Marchant Stadium, the victory enabled the Miracle (38-24) to expand their lead over Tampa (37-26) to 1 1/2 games with exactly one week to go.

The L-Tigers (28-34) won 11 of the 18 meetings with Fort Myers and will still have a hand in determining whether or not the Miracle do indeed make the playoffs. Lakeland will finish the year with four games against the Yankees.

Solid Fort Myers pitching doomed the L-Tigers to consecutive losses to the Miracle at home for the first time since April 16 and 17, 2004.

Kyle Aselton (9-4) held Lakeland to four hits and two runs over the first five innings, while Ryan Callahan and Tim Lahey were even stingier over the final four innings, retiring the last 11 batters they faced.

While every Fort Myers batter had at least one hit, Jim Essian was just about the only bright spot for Lakeland, belting a homer, a double and a single.

The L-Tigers will play host to the Dunedin Blue Jays tonight and Tuesday night at 7 p.m.