Big third inning propels Miracle

By Special to Fort Myers News-Press

With eight runs in the third inning and five in the fifth, the Fort Myers cruised to a 13-4 blowout of the Sarasota Reds Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle sent a dozen hitters to the plate in the third and another 10 in the fifth earning the series split.

The Miracle third began with back-to-back walks issued to Luis Ugueto and Dwayne White. Brian Dinkelman followed with an RBI single to extend his hit-streak to 14 games. Juan Portes was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded to pick up the second RBI before a two-run double from Erik Lis and a pair of RBI singles from Danny Valencia and White capped off the six-run inning.

In the Miracle fifth, Edward Ovalle led off with a double and scored on Jeff Christy's RBI single. Steve Tolleson and Lis picked up RBI singles after Dinkelman kept the inning alive by reaching on an error.

The Miracle's three-game road trip begins today in Lakeland. RHP Jeff Manship (4-1, 2.90) will pitch for the Miracle.