Miracle drop a tough one

By Daily News staff

The Fort Myers Miracle left the bases loaded in the ninth and lost 7-5 to the Jupiter Hammerheads at Hammond Stadium on Friday night.

The Miracle loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning off Hammerheads closer Carlos Martinez. With one out, Matt Tolbert doubled. Denard Span and JR Taylor followed with walks, setting the stage for Matt Moses.

Moses worked the count to 3-0 but Martinez battled back to 3-2 before striking him out on a fastball. He then whiffed Brock Peterson to end the game.

The Miracle squandered a 5-2 lead in the sixth inning.

Miracle starter Nick Blackburn gave up a run in the sixth on a solo homer by Angel Molina.

He then loaded the bases with two outs before being taken out. Tristan Crawford then gave up a bases-clearing double to Alejandro De Aza to give Jupiter a 6-5 lead.

The same two teams meet Saturday night at Hammond Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The Miracle send LHP Glen Perkins (1-0, 3.00) to the hill against Hammerheads LHP Jason Vargas (0-1, 3.86).