Portes slams Miracle past Lakeland 11-4

By Special to the Naples Daily News

A 3-for-4 night by Juan Portes that included a solo-HR and a grand slam, propelled the Fort Myers Miracle to an 11-4 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Sunday night. A back and forth ball game ended with a five-run seventh and three run ninth by the Miracle, winners in 13 of their last 14, helping to start a new win-streak that currently stands at one.

After a RBI-double from Erik Lis, the Florida State League leader in RBI, and Portes’ solo-blast to left in the fourth, the Miracle would experience a bit of déjà vu in the Lakeland fourth. A RBI-double from Ryan Roberson brought the Flying Tigers to within one, until Danny Worth’s groundball to third went between the legs of Toby Gardenhire putting runners at second and third.

Rafael Mendez would follow two hitters later with one of his two doubles on the night to put Lakeland on top 3-2. The Flying Tigers would pepper the left-field wall on Sunday with six two-base hits on the night. Portes and Edward Ovalle would trade two-out doubles of their own in the sixth before Worth’s solo-shot in the Lakeland sixth gave the Flying Tigers their second lead of the night at 4-3.

Korey Feiner led off the Miracle seventh being hit by a pitch right before Gardenhire walked and Brian Dinkelman grounded out. Steve Tolleson would tie the ball game back up at four with his ground out to short moments later. After back-to-back walks to Lis and Dustin Martin loaded the bases, Portes blasted the money ball to left capping off the five-run frame.

A run-scoring single from Dwayne White kicked off the ninth before Dinkelman and Tolleson each drew two-out bases-loaded walks for the easy RBI. Lakeland gave up 10 walks on the night to Miracle hitters.

The Miracle remain 3.5 games behind the first place Dunedin Blue Jays heading back home to face the Jays on Monday night. The first of six meetings in the final two weeks between the two clubs will begin at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jeff Manship (7-3, 2.67) will take the mound for the Miracle.