Miracle earns split with Reds

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

The Miracle and Sarasota Reds each picked up a 3-1 win on Wednesday night splitting a Florida State League doubleheader at Hammond Stadium.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto threw a complete game four-hitter in the opener while a pair of back-to-back doubles gave the Miracle a victory in the nightcap.

In the first game, Cueto threw his first complete game of the season, marking the second time in three days, an opposing hurler has gone the distance.

After a leadoff single from Mike Griffin, followed by a walk to Mike DeJesus, the FSL’s leader in doubles Jay Bruce, slugged his first of three on the night, scoring Griffin and DeJesus.

Steve Tolleson singled and scored for the Miracle in the bottom of the first. The Reds picked up their final run on DeJesus’ RBI single in the fourth.

In the second game, Sarasota scored one in the first inning, but the Miracle answered in the fourth when Juan Portes tripled and scored on a wild pitch.

Portes had three hits. Lis had his team-leading 15th double of the season, scoring Portes with the go-ahead run. Edward Ovalle added an RBI double.

The rubber game of the series is Thursday night at Hammond Stadium. It’s the final game before the All-Star Break.