Cards knock off Miracle

By Special to the Naples Daily News

A pair of three-run innings led the Palm Beach Cardinals to a 6-4 Florida State League win over the Fort Myers Miracle on Saturday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

Things could have been worse for the Miracle. Their pitchers yielded nine walks. Palm Beach stranded 15 runners on base.

The Miracle jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Dwayne White started things off with a bloop, two-out single to left in the second inning. Newcomer Brian Dinkleman, just called up from low-A Beloit, smacked a two-run shot off the foul pole in right.

The Cardinals responded with three in their third and triple-crown threat Allen Craig belted an RBI double off the wall in center to score James Rapoport with the Cards’ first run. Brandon Buckman followed with an RBI on his ground ball, while Ian Church’s sacrifice fly brought home Craig with the game’s tying run.

Another Miracle round-tripper in the fourth gave the visitors a 4-3 lead.