Miracle win fifth straight 6-4

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

A pair of three-run innings were enough to carry the Fort Myers Miracle to their fifth consecutive win, a 6-4 decision over the Brevard County Manatees Thursday night at Hammond Stadium.

Miracle starter Jeff Manship tossed seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with five strikeouts in the win. It is the first five-game winning streak of the season for the Miracle (25-23).

The Miracle struck in the first inning as a leadoff double by Steve Tolleson started the rally. Tolleson scored later on Dustin Martin’s double to right. All five Miracle hits in the game were doubles.

A dropped line drive by Lorenzo Cain in right led to the other two runs in the first.

Brevard got on the board in the fifth. A leadoff double by Cole Gillespie paved the way for Yohannis Perez’s single to right. Perez scored a two hitters later on Nestor Corridor’s groundout.

A pair of runs and two more Miracle doubles in the fifth led to the final three runs. Alexander Soto drew a leadoff walk, took second on Toby Gardenhire’s sacrifice bunt, and scored easily on Tolleson’s second two-base hit.

Another Manatee error allowed Tolleson to score and Erik Lis cleaned up with his own RBI-double to right for the 6-2 lead.

Miracle closer Eddie Morlan shut the door in the final 1 1/3 innings for the save.

The Miracle and Manatees square off again Friday night at 6:05 p.m.