Miracle get to stay home for 9 games

Team 5-5 in 2nd half at Lee County venue

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Home at last, the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team can forget about bus rides for a while.

At 5:05 tonight at the Lee County Sports Complex, the Miracle will play the first game of a nine-game homestand, the team's longest stretch of home games in a row this season.

"Playing at home is always easier for us," Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram said. "You don't have to worry about getting on a bus. You get to rest a little more.

"Then you've got the crowd rooting for you, most of the time. Hopefully, we can put together a good series."

Playing at home hasn't always been kind to the Miracle.

The Miracle actually have fared better on the road (9-7) than at home (5-5) during the second half of the Florida State League season.

Overall, the Miracle have a 24-21 record on the road and a 27-18 record at home.

"I think everyone prefers playing at home, but I probably play better on the road," Miracle shortstop J.R. Taylor said. "Hopefully, I start playing better at home."

Catcher Kyle Phillips said he actually feels more rested on the road than at home.

"When you go on the road, you get more rest," Phillips said. "You don't have a car, so you're pretty much confined to the hotel."

The Miracle lost 6-2 Friday on the road against the Sarasota Reds.

They begin the homestand by facing the Reds for one game tonight, followed by a four-game series against the Vero Beach Dodgers and then a four-game series against the Daytona Cubs that concludes Sunday, July 31.