Sarasota finally gets victory over Miracle

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

SARASOTA — After seven wins in as many tries, the Fort Myers Miracle finally lost to the Sarasota Reds.

Sarasota took an 8-5, Florida State League victory Monday afternoon.

Reds starter Brock Till held the Miracle to two hits over the first five innings.

Meanwhile, Sarasota scored two runs in the first against spot starter Jan Granado. With runners at first and third and one out, catcher Kyle Geiger's pickoff throw to first went into right field, allowing Javon Moran to score and Chris Dickerson to go to third. With two outs, Joey Votto singled home Moran.

The Miracle pulled to within one run in the sixth when J.R. Taylor led off with a walk, moved to second on a Trent Oeltjen ground out and scored on a Geiger single.

Miracle reliever Jay Sawatski, the third Fort Myers pitcher, ran into trouble in the seventh inning. With one out, he walked Luis Bolivar and gave up a bunt single to Moran. Hector Tiburcio's single drove in Bolivar, and, with two outs, Sawatski loaded the bases with a walk to Jason Vavao. Votto followed with a grand slam to left-center that made it 7-1.

It was the first grand slam hit against the Miracle since 2003, when then-Tampa Yankees catcher Dioner Navarro hit one.

Fort Myers scored two runs in the eighth against former Miracle pitcher Eric Lohse. Lohse hit the first two batters he faced and gave up a one-out infield single to Brock Peterson to load the bases. Scott Whitrock then walked to force in a run and Justin Arneson's sacrifice fly made it 7-3.

Sawatski gave up another run in the bottom of the eighth, but the Miracle threatened in the ninth.

Lohse hit the leadoff man again and Taylor followed with a single. A fly ball moved Matt Tolbert to third and he scored on a wild pitch. Geiger's RBI double made it 8-5.

Lohse walked Peterson, brining the tying runner to the plate. Carlos Guevara then came in to get Whitrock and end the game.

Fort Myers right-hander Nick Blackburn (7-4, 3.29 ERA) will start at 7 tonight in Sarasota.