Miracle climb back to .500 mark

The Fort Myers Miracle are finally back to the .500 mark. The Miracle edged the Clearwater Threshers, 5-4, on Wednesday at Bright House Networks Field to get to 17-17.

It's the first time they've been at .500 in the second half since they were 1-1.

Clearwater blew a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning.

Chris Klemm's fielding error on a fly ball allowed two runs to score and give the Miracle the lead. Trent Oeltjen followed with an RBI double for a 5-3 lead.

Pat Neshek picked up his fourth save in his last four appearances. He pitched the final 1.2 innings and gave up a solo homer in the ninth to Juan Richardson, his second of the game.

Neshek entered the game with runners at second and third and one out in the eighth and the Miracle up by two. He got Terry Jones on strikes and Tim Gradoville to ground out to end the threat.

The same two teams meet tonight in Clearwater. The Miracle send John Thomas (2-2, 3.71) against the Threshers' Matt Sweeney (3-7, 5.06). The game can be heard live on Sports Radio 770 ESPN, the first regular-season road game on the station.

Joining the voice of the Miracle, Sean Aronson, in the booth is Clearwater resident Jeff Crupper, who bid $500 for the right to be on the broadcast. The money will go to Foundation Fighting Blindness, a Miracle charity.