Reds split two with Fort Myers

BY PHIL DENIS
Sarasota Herald Tribune

FORT MYERS -- The West Division's first-place Sarasota Reds and the division rival Fort Myers Miracle relied on strong pitching perforances Wednesday night while swapping a pair of 3-1 decisions in front of 893 spectators at William Hammond Stadium.

The SaraReds' (40-26) drive toward a possible first-half championship with only four games remaining had them two games ahead of Tampa (37-27) pending the outcome of the Yankees' late game at the Lakeland Tigers.

Sarasota and Fort Myers (27-35) will close out the first half of the 140-game split season here tonight at 7 when SaraRed left-hander Travis Wood (2-2, 5.40 ERA) opposes Miracle right-hander Josh Hill (3-2, 2.92).

The All-Star Game – which will feature a franchise-record eight Sarasota players – is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Saturday at the Daytona Cubs' Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Sarasota All-Star right-hander Johnny Cueto (4-5) was outstanding in Wednesday's opener, going the seven-inning distance and allowing only four hits and one run. He retired the final 11 Miracle batters.

In the nightcap, Adam Rosales' single to right gave the SaraReds a 1-0 lead before Juan Portes tied the game for the Miracle when he came home on a wild pitch from All-Star righty Logan Ondrusek (4-4).

Fort Myers took a 2-1 lead and scored an insurance run in the sixth. Miracle starter Anthony Swarzak limited the Reds to four hits while striking out 8 in 5 2/3 innings.