Portes' five RBI carry Miracle past Flying Tigers

By David Yates
Special to the Fort Myers News-Press

LAKELAND — It'll be showdown time at Bill Hammond Stadium tonight, but first Fort Myers had to take care of business in Lakeland on Sunday.

Juan Portes and his Miracle teammates did just that, using a five-run, seventh-inning rally to defeat the Flying Tigers 11-4 at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Portes had the only hit of the inning, but it was a big one.

The outfielder rocketed a first-pitch, inside fastball from Lakeland reliever Brendan Wise for a two-out, tiebreaking grand slam, his second homer of the game and 11th of the season.

Portes also doubled, scored four times and had five RBI, his most productive game this year.

With the important win, the team's 26th in its last 37 games, Fort Myers (33-24) remained in the thick of the second-half West Division pennant race.

The Dunedin Blue Jays (36-20) will visit tonight with a 3 1/2-game lead over the Miracle.