Miracle falls to Reds for third straight loss

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

The Fort Myers Miracle sent their ace to the mound Saturday evening at the Lee County Sports Complex in hopes of ending their mini-slide, but Adam Harben made two key mistakes and the Sarasota Reds cashed in as the Miracle lost their third consecutive game, 4-1, in the Florida State League.

Harben had not allowed more than one earned run since May 23 and hadn't lost since May 19, but the Reds were able to take advantage of his mistakes Saturday.

With the Miracle leading 1-0 in the fifth, Mark Schramek doubled to right-center to lead off the inning. Miguel Perez followed with a single to left that put runners at the corners, but Harben got a double play off the bat of Kyle Smith. Schramek scored from third to tie the game. The next batter, Hector Tiburcio, hit an 0-2, hanging slider over the left-field wall, his fifth homer of the season, to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth, after Luis Bolivar led off with an infield single, Joey Votto crushed a belt-high fastball over the right-field wall for his 11th home run of the season, giving the Reds a 4-1 lead.

Harben went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out five. He received his first loss since May 19, against Jupiter.

Fort Myers grounded into three double plays during the evening.

The only run the Miracle scored came in the second. With two outs, Scott Whitrock singled to right-center. Reds starter Tyler Pelland then walked the next three hitters to push across a run. Justin Arneson, however, struck out to end the inning.