Miracle out of first half race

By Daily News staff

Despite jumping out to their best start in nearly a decade, the Fort Myers Miracle were mathematically eliminated from the Florida State League Western Division's first half title race with a 5-1 road loss to the Lakeland Tigers on Sunday.

The Miracle managed just two hits, as Lakeland starter Randor Bierd went seven innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit while walking one and striking out four to earn his first victory of the season.

A first-inning RBI double by Kelly Hunt got the Tigers going. They tacked on three more in the fourth on four consecutive hits. Danilo Sanchez added an RBI single in the sixth.

With the victory, the Tigers reduced their magic number to clinch the first half Western Division title to one.