Portes, Sosa lead Miracle over Jupiter, 4-1

By Special to the Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS — Juan Portes belted a two-run homer in the second to go along with Oswaldo Sosa’s seven innings of work on Thursday night as the Fort Myers Miracle reeled in a 4-1 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads. Portes extended his hit streak to 13 straight games while Sosa gave up one run, three hits and struck out five in the win.

The Miracle scored early and often Thursday cruising out to a 4-0 lead. Brian Dinkelman led off the first with a single to center and moved to third on a hit-and-run with Steve Tolleson. A few pitches later, Tolleson would break from first, steal second and allow Dinkelman to score on catcher John Purdom’s throwing error down to second.

Tolleson slapped a one-out single in the third before scoring on Portes’ blast to left, his seventh of the year. Dinkelman and Tolleson would again join forces for the final Miracle run in the fourth. Dinkelman drew a lead off walk, swiped second and scored on Tolleson’s single to center for the four-run lead.

Jupiter’s lone run of the night would come in the eighth as Kevin Randel reached on a fielding error by Toby Gardenhire at shortstop. Purdom would then double to left before Lorenzo Scott sent a RBI single to left, scoring Randel on the play.

The Hammerheads would have runners at the corners in the ninth, but Eduardo Morlan would quickly shut the door.

Game three of the series happens on Friday night beginning at 7:05 p.m. The ZOOperstars return to Hammond Stadium on a “Happy Hour Friday.” Fans can enjoy free hot dogs, free chips and salsa along with $1 soda/beer from 6-7 p.m, sponsored by Bud Select, Shoeless Joe’s Sports Café and B103.9. Friday’s game can be heard on AM 1480, WVOI.