Miracle playoff hopes get dimmer

By Special to The News-Press

SARASOTA — The Fort Myers Miracle gave up four home runs to the Sarasota Reds on Thursday night at Ed Smith Stadium, losing 5-3.

The Miracle's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread in the Florida State League's West Division. Dunedin beat Clearwater 10-1 and Lakeland beat Tampa 4-3.

If either Dunedin or Lakeland wins one of their final three remaining games, or Fort Myers loses one of its final three, the Miracle are officially eliminated.

The Sarasota home run parade started in the first inning Thursday night.

Hector Tiburcio took Jay Rainville over the left-center field wall, a solo shot, for his eighth home run of the season.

The Miracle took the lead in the third when Matt Tolbert, Jake Mauer and Kyle Geiger all singled to load the bases. Mark Zamojc's fielder's choice scored Tolbert to tie it at 1. Jose Leger's sac fly scored Mauer to give the Miracle a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Rainville gave up his second homer of the night. With one out Tiburcio reached on a bunt single. One out later, Ben Himes clubbed one over the right-field wall, his ninth homer of the season, to give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Rainville gave up a third home run in the fourth inning, a solo shot by Jeff Urgelles — his first of the season.

Rainville lasted four innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five.

After pitching a scoreless fifth, reliever Jose Mijares gave up a solo shot to Mark Schramek in the sixth, his 11th, to make it 5-2 Reds.

Fort Myers came within 5-3 in the eighth when Leger reached on third baseman Schramek's error. He was balked to second and scored on Brock Peterson's single to center.

Matt Williams, who recently joined the Miracle from the Gulf Coast League Twins, pitched two scoreless innings in his Miracle debut.

Tolbert, Mauer and Geiger each collected two hits. Geiger extended his hitting streak to 13 games, with Tolbert extending his streak to nine games.

The same two teams meet at 7 tonight in Sarasota.

The Miracle send left-hander Justin Jones (6-3, 3.18 ERA) to the hill against Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto (0-0, 0.00).