Seven-run, eight-hit seventh sends Reds to 8-5 win

By Special to the Naples Daily News

SARASOTA — The Sarasota Reds used a seven-run, eight hit seventh inning on Friday to steal an 8-4 win over the Fort Myers Miracle at Ed Smith Stadium. The Miracle see their three-game win streak come to an end as all eight Reds runs on the night came with two outs in an inning.

Scoring on the night began in the Miracle third as Toby Gardenhire sliced a one-out double down the left-field line and move to third on a Brian Dinkelman groundout to first. Juan Portes followed with a RBI-single to left for the 1-0 lead.

Two more Miracle runs came across in the fifth to make it a 3-0 advantage. Dinkelman’s RBI-single to right brought home Luis Ugueto for a two-run lead, before Portes followed with his second-consecutive RBI-single, plating Gardenhire, for the three-run cushion.

A lead-off double from Johnny Woodard in the sixth would lead to the fourth Miracle run on the night. Moving to third on a groundout by Edward Ovalle, Woodard would later score on an Erik Lis single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.

Sarasota finally jumped on the board in the sixth as a two-out walk by Miracle starter Jay Rainville, to first baseman Tonys Guiterrez, proved costly as Miguel Perez roped a double down the left-field line slicing the lead to three. Rainville ended his night tossing 5.2 innings, allowing the one run on six hits.

Another two-out walk came back to haunt the Miracle in the seven-run Reds seventh. Mike DeJesus drew the two-out free pass and would eventually score on Danny Dorn’s two-run double cutting the Miracle lead to 4-3. A RBI-single from Chris Valaika moments later squared the contest at four. The big blow off the bat of B.J. Szymanski, a three-run shot to left, capped off the Reds comeback.

Valencia picked up a RBI-double in the Miracle ninth making it 8-5, but Reds closer Derrik Lutz would get a ground ball out of Johnny Woodard to end the game. Two other Miracle hit streaks were extended on Friday as Dinkelman’s moved to an even dozen with his single in the fifth, while Valencia’s advanced to five with his double in the ninth.

The final two games of the series will now migrate south to Hammond Stadium beginning on Saturday night. The 7:05 p.m. contest will see RHP Zach Ward (2-13, 3.36) to the mound for the Miracle against Sarasota’s LHP Ben Jukich (3-1, 5.93). A Post-game fireworks display, sponsored by North Trail RV and Adams Homes, will follow the Reds-Miracle action.