Torrid Miracle win 11th in a row

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

TAMPA — The season series between the Fort Myers Miracle and Tampa Yankees concluded Thursday night at Legends Field and the Yankees couldn’t be happier.

Erik Lis belted another two-run home run to help propel the Miracle to a 9-5 victory and extend their winning streak to 11 straight games, including a three-game sweep here this week.

A pair of four-run innings ignited the Miracle (31-23) to another quick start and pull within 2 1/2 games of the top spot in the Florida State League’s West Division.

Back-to-back singles by Brian Dinkelman and Steve Tolleson led off the four-run third. After Juan Portes drew a two-out walk to load the bases, Danny Valencia belted a bases-clearing triple to center for a 3-0 Miracle lead.

Valencia scored on a throwing error by third baseman Marcos Vechionacci making it a four-run inning.

The next inning saw the Miracle put up four more runs for an 8-0 advantage. After Tolleson’s RBI-double, Lis blasted his two-run shot to right. Portes joined in on the long ball parade with a solo homer to center to cap the second four-run rally.

Tampa jumped on the board in the fourth with a pair of runs. Vechionacci delivered an RBI-single before Andres Perez brought him in with an RBI-triple to left.

Another RBI by Vechionacci, a sacrifice-fly to center, brought the Yankees within 8-3. Perez again slapped a run-scoring single up the middle for the final Tampa run, bringing the Yanks as close as they would get at 9-5.

Miracle starter Kyle Waldrop went six innings, allowing three runs on five to pick up the win. Rob Delaney registered the final two outs in the eighth for the save.

Heavy showers ended the game in the top of the ninth inning.

The Miracle road trip continues Friday in Lakeland as the Tigers open a three-game series.