Miracle top Manatees

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

VIERA — There are some games during a season that a team has to win ugly and Friday night at Space Coast Stadium was one of those for the Fort Myers Miracle as they defeated the Brevard County Manatees 7-6.

The game saw a combined 13 walks, five errors seven unearned runs and 27 men left on base with nine different pitchers and lasted three hours and 46 minutes, but in the end the Miracle hung on.

Kyle Phillips hit a grand slam in the first inning — the first by a Miracle player since Terry Tiffee on May 7, 2002.

Tristan Crawford went five innings for the Miracle, allowing three runs, all unearned, on six hits while walking a Miracle season-high five and striking out six in getting his fourth victory of the season. Jay Sawatski picked up his eighth save of the season by going 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, both unearned, on three hits.