Miracle win rain-shortened game

Giambi's appearance postponed until Saturday

By Special to the Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS — The Fort Myers Miracle needed exactly 25 and a half hours before capturing a 4-2 win over the visiting Tampa Yankees on Friday night. Mother Nature again will get the assist as strong thunderstorms forced the stoppage with one out in the top of the seventh.

The postponed second game Friday night will now become part of a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 5:05 p.m. Jason Giambi will appear in the Tampa Yankees lineup again on Saturday. Fans with tickets for either Thursday or Friday’s game can exchange them at the Miracle Ticket Office for admission into Saturday’s twin-bill.

Erik Lis started the contest off Thursday night with a two-run blast in the first. Jeff Christy followed in the second with a sacrifice-fly that gave the Miracle a 3-0 lead.

When play resumed Friday, the Miracle were able to take advantage of a lead-off walk in the fourth. Luis Ugueto drew the free pass and would later score on a fielding error by Tampa second baseman Kevin Russo.

The Yankees threw a pair of runs on the board late before the rains came at Hammond Stadium on Friday night. In both the sixth and seventh innings, Tampa would benefit from lead-off doubles, and a pair of RBI-singles that cut the lead to 4-2.

Reegie Corona picked up the two-base hit in the sixth later scoring on Jose Tabata’s single while in the seventh, it was the combo of Marcos Vechionacci and Russo that sliced the Miracle lead in half. The Yankees did have runners at first and second with one out as the storms hit, and played was halted at 6:23pm.