Portes powers Miracle past Tigers

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

Juan Portes went 3-for-4, with a grand slam and a solo home run, propelling the the Fort Myers Miracle to an 11-4 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers Sunday.

The back-and-forth game ended with a five-run seventh and three-run ninth by the Miracle, who have won 13 of their last 14.

Erik Lis, the Florida State League leader in RBI, had an RBI double and Portes hit his solo shot to left in the fourth.

Portes and Edward Ovalle traded two-out doubles in the sixth, but Lakeland went ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Korey Feiner led off the Miracle seventh being hit by a pitch right before Gardenhire walked and Brian Dinkelman grounded out. Steve Tolleson tied the game an RBI groundout.

After back-to-back walks to Lis and Dustin Martin loaded the bases, Portes blasted the grand slam to left capping off the five-run frame.

The Miracle are 3 1/2 games behind the first place Dunedin Blue Jays, as they head back home to face the Jays Monday night at Hammond Stadium. The first of six meetings in the final two weeks between the two clubs will begin at 7:05 p.m. Jeff Manship (7-3, 2.67) will take the mound for the Miracle.