Miracle start second half with 9-7 win

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

Kicking off the second half of the season right where the first half began in Sarasota, the Fort Myers Miracle wanted to make sure the second 70 games didn’t start off the way the first 70 did.

The season-opener began with a 2-0 loss, but that wasn’t the case on Thursday night.

The Miracle cranked out nine runs on 11 hits in a back-and-forth, 9-7 win over the host Sarasota Reds at Ed Smith Stadium.

Erik Lis’ RBI double and Danny Dorn’s RBI single accounted for each run in the first inning.

The Miracle followed with RBI singles by Matt Betsill and Steve Tolleson in the second, before a Reds error, an Eli Tintor sacrifice fly and a second RBI by Betsill pushed the Miracle lead to 6-1.

Sarasota’s top-ranked offense kicked into gear in the third as Jeremiah Piepkorn smashed a three-run shot to left, bringing the Reds to within two.

After Caleb Moore’s RBI single to right in the fourth gave the Miracle another brief, three-run cushion, the Reds quickly cut into the lead with two more in the fourth.

Eric Eymann’s run-scoring double and Josh Holden’s RBI single brought the contest to a 7-6 Miracle advantage.

Sarasota tied it in the seventh on doubles by Mike DeJesus and Craig Tatum.

After Tolleson led off the Miracle eighth with a walk, moved to second on a groundout, Tolleson picked up his second stolen base of the night, swiping third with one out. Juan Portes promptly followed with a sac fly to right, giving the Miracle their third lead.

Tintor’s RBI single in the ninth brought home Dwayne White, adding some insurance.

The Miracle and Reds shift venues back to Hammond Stadium for a 12:05 p.m. matinee on Friday afternoon. The Miracle send Oswaldo Sosa (2-4, 2.65) to the mound.