Miracle rally, win in 9th

The Fort Myers Miracle scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win their third straight over the Sarasota Red Sox 5-4 on Friday night at Hammond Stadium.

Ron Perodin entered the game with just two extra base hits in 183 at bats. With runners at first and second and two out in the ninth he hit a hard liner to center field. Red Sox center fielder Chris Durbin made the mistake of coming in on the ball first, but the ball sailed over his head for a two run tying triple. After an intentional walk to Alex Romero, the first pitch Willy Corporan threw to Garrett Guzman, glanced off the mitt of catcher Alberto Concepcion, went through his legs and allowed Perodin to score the winning run.

The Red Sox were in control of the game for most of the night. They jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with an RBI single from Jeremy West in the second and an RBI single by Concepcion in the third. The Miracle got a run back on Romero's first homer of the season in the third. He finished the night 3 for 4 with a homer, RBI and two runs scored.

The Red Sox, however, answered back with a run in fourth on an RBI single from Ignacio Suarez. The Miracle got to within a run when they loaded the bases with nobody out and Doug Deeds hit a fly ball between the left and center fielder that the center fielder dropped. It allowed the run from third to score and Deeds would not get a hit in his other three at bats. His hitting streak ended at 19 games, tying him with Joe Mauer for the longest hitting streak in Miracle history.

The Miracle bullpen was solid allowing just one unearned run over the final five innings while striking out five.

The same two teams meet Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

The Miracle send LHP Francisco Liriano (3-6, 3.98) to the hill against Red Sox LHP Juan Cedeno (6-3, 3.48). The game can be heard on Sports Radio 770 ESPN. Following the game is the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration sponsored by Seminole Casino, Budweiser, Modern Service, WXKB and WJPT.