Miracle see win streak end

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

VERO BEACH — Despite double-digit hits (13) for the fourth consecutive game, the Fort Myers Miracle were unable to overcome two home runs by Sergio Pedroza Monday night as the Vero Beach Devil Rays picked up a 7-4 win.

All three Miracle runs came on solo home runs, but their season-best four-game win streak came to an end.

Brian Dinkelman belted his third home run of the season to put the Miracle up 1-0 in the first inning.

Miracle starter Zach Ward drilled the Rays’ lead off man, then sailed a potential double-play throw into center field. Rhyne Hughes’ single to left tied the game 1-1. Pedroza made the Miracle pay with a three-run shot to center as Vero Beach took a 5-1 lead.

Steve Tolleson and Erik Lis homered in the third to bring the Miracle back within 5-3, but relinquished two runs back to the Rays in the sixth on Pedroza’s opposite-field shot to left.

The Miracle loaded the bases to stage a comeback in the ninth with one out. Lis picked up his second RBI with a fielder’s choice, but one pitch later Danny Valencia’s fielder’s choice to short ended the game.

The Miracle left 10 runners stranded in the loss. Dinkelman’s hit streak reached nine games and Tolleson’s advanced to seven.

The Miracle send Oswaldo Sosa to the mound against the Rays Tuesday night.