Miracle swept in twinbill

By Daily News staff

The words on the scorecard in the Miracle clubhouse were very straightforward "SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY." The Miracle entered Friday night's double header trailing the first place Lakeland Tigers by five games with 10 to play. When the night ended the Miracle trailed by seven games with eight to go in the first half as they were swept in the double header losing game one 3-2 and game two 2-1 in eight innings.

The Fort Myers Miracle faced the top pitcher in the Florida State League in game one, Tiger right-hander Justin Verlander. The Miracle countered with one of their best, left-hander Errol Simonitsch. It was a classic pitchers duel, but the power of the Tigers was a little too much in the end.

The Tigers struck first when Juan Francia led off the first with a double. Two batters later he scored on a ground out by Brent Clevlen. In the second solo homers by Derek Nicholson, his third, and Garth McKinney, his 11th gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

The Miracle got to Verlander in the sixth. With one out Denard Span reached on second baseman Francia's fielding error. JR Taylor followed with a double down the left field line that sent Span to third. He then scored on a wild pitch and Taylor went to third. Matt Moses singled home Taylor to make it 3-2. Kyle Phillips walked to put runners at first and second with one out.

Trent Oeltjen then struck out. Moses moved to third on a wild pitch, but Brock Peterson struck out to end the inning.

Both starters went the distance. Simonitsch went six innings allowing three runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out five, while Verlander went seven innings allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out 10.

In game two it was the Miracle who had a first rounder on the hill and Glen Perkins showed why he was the 22nd overall pick in 2004. He hurled seven innings allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out a professional career high, 14. He made just one mistake, a solo homer by Kelly Hunt in the fourth inning. Perkins struck out at least two batters in every inning except the first, when he struck out just one. He struck out the side in the fifth. He fanned every Tiger batter except the number two hitter, Jason Knoedler.

The Miracle scored in the second inning when Kyle Geiger singled with one out.

He moved to third on a single by Felix Molina. Geiger then scored on an errant pick off attempt at first.

The Miracle had a chance to take the lead in the eighth when Ron Perodin led off with a double to right-center. Span sacrificed him to third, but Taylor struck out and Moses grounded out to short to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, reliever Jay Sawatski walked Juan Gonzalez with one out. Gonzalez then took off from first and Sawtski threw to first baseman Brock Peterson. Peterson's throw to second, however, was wide of the bag and Gonzalez was safe on the throwing error. Three pitches later Francia singled to center that scored Gonzalez for the win.

The same two teams meet Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.

The Miracle send All-Star RHP Nick Blackburn (5-3, 3.43) to the hill against Tiger RHP Randor Bierd (0-1, 27.00).